Dysphagia, Dyspepsia, Hiccup Flashcards
What is dysphagia
- difficult swallowing
- oropharyngeal : difficulty initiating swallowing
- Esophageal swallowing : difficulty of food bolus traversing esophagus
Physiology normal swallowing
- Oral phase (voluntary)
- mastication
- Transfer Phase
- bolus pushed back by tongue to hypopharynx
- Involuntary phase
- larynx elevated
- UES opens
- tongue pushes food into esophagus
- Esophageal phase
- LES relaxes
- primary peristalsis
- secondary peristalsis from esophageal distention
Causes of OROPHARYNGEAL dysphagia
difficult transfer of food bolus from mouth to pharynx or pharynx to esophagus
Causes:
- Structural
- malignancy
- thyroid large
- Zencker’s diverticulum
- Neurological
- CVS
- ALS
- Brain stem tumour
- MS
- Parksinons
- Neuropathy
- Dementia
- Myopathic
- muscular dystrophy
- polymyositis
- thyroid dz
- myasthenia
- Iatrogenic
- meds (botox, amio, statins, vincristine)
- anticholingergics (TCA, atropine, opioids)
- radiation rx
- surgery head and neck
- Poor dentition
- Anxiety
Causes of ESOPHAGEAL Dysphagia
Narrowing of lumen of esopahgeal. Impaired motor function, altered esophageal sensation
Causes:
- Neuromuscular
- achalasia, esophageal spasm, SLE, RA, IBD, scleroderma
- Vascular
- ischemic esophagus
- Structural
- stricture, diverticula, malignancy, external compression
- foreign body, medistinal masses
- Infectious
- candidiasis, HIV, CMV
- Medications
- alendronate, NSAIDS, ascorbic acid, antibiotics, steroids
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
Clinical presentation of dysphagia
- Oropharyngeal :
- repeated swallowing
- regurgitation
- choking
- aspiration
- hoarse voice
- coughing on swallowing
- weight loss
- malnurtrition
- pneumonia
- liquids > solids more difficult
- Esophageal:
- chest pain
- solids > liquids more difficult
What is aspiration?
- passage of food/fluid through vocal cords
- causes pneumonitis, pneumonia
- solids - fatal airway obstruction
- bacterial pna - normal flora of mouth
- chemical pna - acidic aspiration
Physical exam for dysphagia
- nutritional status
- hydration
- mental status
- dysphonia/dysarthria
- oral cavity : dentition/ candidiasis
- Neuro exam (CN V< VII-XII)
- symmtery, strength, sensation of lips
- midline uvula
- gag reflex
- tongue for wasting, deviation towards side of lesion
- cough
- swallowing test
- open/closes mouth
- clear mouth after swallowing
- changes with fatigue
- drooling, cough, wet hoarse voice
- respiratory exam
Investigations for dysphagia
- CBC, albumin
- CT/MRI if ? stroke
- Cxray (pna?)
- Barium swallow
- all phases of swallow
- patient has to be able to sit up
- risk of aspiration
- Endoscopy
- direct visualization of larynx and pharynx
- esophagus (biopsy, dilation, stent)
- esophageal pH monitoring
- not as comprehensive as barium swallow
- no risk of aspiration
- oral phase of swallowing cannot be assessed
Management of oropharyngeal dysphagia
- lifestyle
- pureed diet
- increased numbers of chews/swallows
- thickened fluids
- SLP for swallowing exercises
- SLP for safe swallowing
- surgery rare - long life expectancy
Principles / goals of palliative management of dysphagia
- maximize swallowing function
- maintain adequate nutrition as appropriate
- allow people to participate socially in meals
Prevention of aspiration pneumonia in dysphagia
- maintain nutrition
- hydration
- good oral hygiene (altered colonization risk)
- mouthwash, artificial saliva
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- mouthwash, artificial saliva
Parenteral / enteral feeds : considerations
- progressive debilitating conditions
- reversibility of underlying problem
- can it be improved with less invasive interventions
- individual wishes of patient
- risks
NG Tubes
- least invasive
- simple
- temporary
- short feeds
- risks: bleeding, trauma, esophageal perforation
- nasal ulceration, discomfort, sinusitis, reflux, pna
Oroesophageal tube for feeds
- temp tube only during feed
- no gag reflex
- requires compliance and time
PEG tube for feeding
- Percutaneous gastrostomy tube
- placed under sedation
- risks: bleeding, infection, perforation, perforation of other organs
- aspiration still a risk (10%)
- infections, tube leakage, blockage,metabolic derangements
- low survival
- NOT for short life expectancy
Esophageal strictures
- most common cause Reflux
- Simple strictures (straight, < 2 cm)
- dilatation alone
- Complex strictures (> 2cm, tortuous)
- dilatation (multiple)
- stent
Risks of dilations: perforation, bleeding, infection
Esophageal stents
- Risks:
- Mid distal stents
- stent migration
- obstruction
- reflux
- Proximal stents
- food obstruction
- fistula
- aspiration
40% need re-stent. it works 90% of the time
CANNOT stent a stricture above or crosses UES