Dysphagia Flashcards
What kind of reflex is swallowing? When do humans develop it?
Primitive Reflex:
• Human fetus can swallow at 12 weeks gestation; before CNS has completely developed
What are the functions of swallowing?
Serves 2 Functions:
- Nutrition
- Protects from aspiration
What components do we swallow?
Saliva
Food
Fluids
What are the components of saliva?
water, electrolytes and proteins
What are the functions of saliva?
1-2L produced each day • Moistens food • Digestion • Antibacterial protection • Enhances taste • Oral hygiene
WHat are the locations of muscles involved in swallowing?
25 muscles involved: mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus
Swallowing & breathing co-ordinated by __ nerves
Swallowing & breathing co-ordinated by cranial nerves
What are the 5 cranial nerves?
V: Trigeminal VII: Facial Nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal X: Vagus XII: Hypoglossal
Describe V: Trigeminal nerve
Oral preparatory and oral transit phases
• Motor: mastication
• Sensory: taste and touch
Describe VII: Facial Nerve function in taste
Taste on anterior 2/3 of tongue
Describe IX: Glossopharyngeal nerve
Pharyngeal & esophageal phases
• Motor: swallowing, gag reflex
• Sensory: palatal, glossal & oral sensations
Describe X: Vagus nerve
Pharyngeal and esophageal phases
• Motor: GI activity
• Sensory: Cough reflex, taste on posterior 2/3 of tongue
Describe XII: Hypoglossal nerve
All phases
• Motor: Tongue movement
What are the 4 phases of swallowing?
- Oral preparatory phase
- Ora ltransit phase
- Pharyngeal phase
- Esophageal phase
Which swallowing phase is the initial phase?
oral preparatory phase
What type of control is oral preparatory phase under?
voluntary
What are the nerves involved in oral preparatory phase?
CN: V, VII, XII
• Trigeminal, facial & hypoglossal
What happens in the oral preparatory phase?
- Food & drink enter mouth
- Saliva secreted
- Lips seal mouth
- Soft palate drop to base of the tongue
* Protects the airways from food spillage - Tongue moves food around the mouth, mixes with saliva
- Mastication, physical breakdown of food
- Bolus formed and between tongue and soft palate
When/why is saliva secreted?
- Response to food entering mouth
* Visual response to food “mouth waters”
What are the consideration for oral preparatory phase?
- Sight
- Ability to self feed
- Hand mouth coordination
- Lip seal
- Tongue control / strength
- Oral sensation
- Dentition / chewing difficulty
- Cognition
- Positioning
What type of control is oral transit phase under?
voluntary
What are the nerves involved in oral transit phase?
CN: V, VII, XII
• Trigeminal, facial & hypoglossal
What happens in the oral transit phase?
Soft palate raises to seal nasal cavity from oropharynx
• Important for pressure to help propel bolus to pharynx
• Prepared bolus propelled to the oropharynx
• Anterior and lateral edges of tongue are raised and contact alveolar ridge
• Blade of tongue is pressed against hard palate and moves in a wave like motion (front to back)
• Posterior tongue is depressed and velum is elevated propelling bolus into oropharynx
Considerations: Oral Transit Phase
- Foods that don’t form cohesive bolus, might get stuck (• Honey, peanut butter; • Saltine crackers)
- Pocketing
- Tongue strength
- Oral hygiene
- Oral sensation
- Energy level of individual
What type of control is pharyngeal phase under?
Autonomic control (involuntary)
How long does pharyngeal phase last>
about 1 sec
What are the nerves involved in pharyngeal phase?
CN: IX, X, XII
• Glossopharyngeal, vagus & hypoglossal
Which swallowing phase is the most complex?
Pharyngeal Phase
What is the role of Pharyngeal Phase?
- Ensures bolus enters esophagus and airways are protected
- Soft palate still sealing the nasal cavity from oropharyngeal cavity
- Respiration stops to protect airway
- Vocal folds close, larynx elevates and epiglottis tilts backwards blocking off the larynx
- Suprahyoid muscles elevate hyoid bone contribute to blocking the airways
- Pressure helps pull the bolus backward toward the esophagus
- Cricoid cartilage up & away from the posterior pharyngeal wall
- Thereby opening the upper esophageal sphincter (UES)
When does pharyngeal phase begin?
Begins once bolus is propelled past the anterior faucial pillars which “triggers” involuntary swallow
When does breathing resume
once pharyngeal phase finishes
Summary of Pharyngeal Phase
- Nasal passages sealed
- Laryngeal muscles are involved in vocal fold closure
- Epiglottis drops and covers larynx
- Respiration stopped
- Bolus propelled towards esophagus
Considerations: Pharyngeal phase
- Faucial pillars • Pharynx
- Larynx
- Epiglottis
Signs and symptoms of pharyngeal phase not going well
- Gagging
- Choking, coughing
- Watery eyes
- Nasopharyngeal regurgitation • “Wet” vocal quality
Esophagus has a __ at either end
Esophagus has a spinchtre at either end
Name sphincters of esophagus
- UES: Upper esophageal sphincter
* LES: Lower esophageal sphincter
When does peristalsis begin
Peristalsis begins after swallow
What is the main function of esophagus
motility
How many layers does esophagus have?
4
Describe UES
(Upper Esophageal Sphincter):
• Mainly cricopharyngeal muscle
• AKA pharyngoesophageal junction
• Main barrier in preventing laryngopharyngeal reflux
WHat control type is esophageal phase under?
Autonomic/ involuntary
What are the nerves involved in esophageal phase?
CN: IX, X, XII
• Glossopharyngeal, vagus, hypoglossal
What happens during esophageal phase
- Relaxation of cricopharyngeal muscles helps open UES
- Bolus passes through the UES into esophagus
- UES is sealed-> Prevents regurgitation
- Peristalsis propels bolus towards the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
- LES relaxes & food enters the stomach
- Secondary peristaltic waves if remnants in esophagus
What might difficulties at esophageal phase might be due to?
- mechanical obstruction / cancer / GERD
* Not necessarily age related
Main function of Oral Preparatory Phase
Food is prepared into bolus
Main function of Oral transit Phase
Bolus propelled towards pharynx
Main function of Pharyngeal Phase
Airways are protected as bolus moves through oropharyngeal cavity towards the esophagus
Main function of Esophageal Phase
Bolus propelled through esophagus into stomach
What does GERD stand for? WHat happens?
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Reflux of gastric contents into esophagus
Normal functioning vs GERD
- Normally;; pressure in esophagus > pressure in stomach;; keeps LES sealed.
- When LES pressure is lowered, gastric contents can flow backwards into esophagus
GERD signs and symptoms
Gastric acid and pepsin are found in esophagus • Dysphagia • Heartburn • Increased salivation • Belching • Radiating pain: back, neck or jaw • Throat clearing / Hoarseness • Refusal to eat (children) • Abdominal pain • Aspiration • Ulceration • Barrett’s Esophagus
GERD triggers
- Increased secretion of gastrin, estrogen, and progesterone
- Medical conditions: hiatal hernia, scleroderma, obesity
- Smoking
- Medications: dopamine, morphine, theophylline
- Foods: high fat, chocolate, spearmint, peppermint, alcohol, caffeine
Gerd: Treatment goals
3 major treatment goals:
- Increasing LES competence
- Decreasing gastric acidity, decreasing symptoms
- Improving clearance of the esophagus
GERD treatment methods
- Medical Management
- Nutrition Therapy
- Lifestyle Intervention
- Surgery
GERD medication classes
Antacids Foaming agents H2 antagonists Proton pump inhibitors Prokinetics
Antacids- description and precautions
combination of 3 basic salts: Mg, Ca, and aluminium- with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions to neutralize HCl
May have side effects
Mg salt can lead to diarrhea. Aluminium salt can cause constipation
These two can be combined to eliminate their effects
Foaming agents- description and precautions
Combination of Al, Mg, and sodium bicarbonate. Reduce the symptoms associated with reflux
H2 antagonists - description and precautions
Block histamine receptors that are components of acid secretion stimulation
These drugs provide short-term relief, but should not be used for more than a few weeks at a time
Effective for 50% of patients with GERD
Proton pump inhibitors
Block H+ K+ ATPase enzyme necessary for HCl production
Prokinetics- description and precautions
Help strengthen pyloric sphincter and increase speed of gastric emptying
May have frequent side effects that can limit their usefulness in treatment of GERD