Impact of Dysphagia Assessment and Management on Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review
Cerebrovascular Diseases
Eltringham, S. A., Kilner, K., et al. (2018).
Cerebrovascular Diseases, 46(3-4), 97-105.
This systematic review investigates various dysphagia screening and assessment tools/protocols in order to determine which methods are associated with reduced risk of dysphagia-associated pneumonia in post acute stroke.
Stroke Association (United Kingdom)
Up to November 2016
Published, peer-reviewed studies (not further specified)
12
<div>There is emerging evidence that early dysphagia screening (i.e., < 24 hours of admission) was independently associated with decreased risk of stroke-associated pneumonia. The majority of studies used indirect swallow tests and risk assessments combined with direct swallow assessments with water or solid food trials. While a range of screening and assessment practices were used across studies, the findings suggest that "implementation of a formal dysphagia screening protocol or clinical pathway significantly reduced pneumonia rates" (p. 102).</div>
