Dysphagia & Etiologies

Question 1

what is dysphagia?

Answer 1

difficulty swallowing; it is a symptom of something else

Question 2

what are some impacts of dysphagia?

Answer 2

penetration and aspiration
aspiration pneumonia
dehydration & main nutrition
weight loss
reduction in QoL

Question 3

what are four etiologies of dysphagia?

Answer 3

neurological
structural
head & neck cancer
aging & other

Question 4

what are the non degenerative etiologies within neurological etiologies of dysphagia?

Answer 4

• vascular (stroke)
• trauma
• neoplastic (Brian tumor)
• congenital (CP)
• latrogenic (tardive dyskinesia, cardiac surgery, etc.)

Question 5

what are the degenerative etiologies within the neurological etiologies of dysphagia?

Answer 5

• dementia
• movement disorders (PD, progressive surpanuclear palsy, Huntingtons, Wilsons, OPCA atrophy)
• relapsing-remitting MS

Question 6

what are some structural etiologies of dysphagia?

Answer 6

• tumor
• surgical
• edema (i.e., post intubation)

Question 7

what is penetration & what is the natural response to penetration?

Answer 7

bolus in the laryngeal vestibule above the vocal folds

response: swallowing

Question 8

what is aspiration & what is the natural response to aspiration?

Answer 8

bolus below the level of the vocal folds

response: cough

Question 9

what is residue and what are the two common places of residue?

Answer 9

when the bolus or part of it remains in the pharynx after the swallow is complete

1. vallecula
2. pyriform sinus

Question 10

why is residue so dangerous?

Answer 10

it can be at high risk for aspiration after swallow