Dysphagia: Integrated Research and Management

Dysphagia refers to a difficulty in the passage of liquids or solids as they pass from the mouth to the stomach. It may also refer to an inadequacy in the swallowing mechanism and a lack of pharyngeal sensation. Dysphagia can be classified into esophageal and obstructive dysphagia, oropharyngeal dysphagia, functional dysphagia and neuromuscular symptom complexes. If dysphagia is undiagnosed and untreated, it may result in pulmonary aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. It can also result in malnutrition, dehydration and renal failure. Oropharyngeal dysphagia can present symptoms of difficulty controlling food in the mouth, difficulty initiating a swallow, inability to control food or saliva in the mouth, choking, coughing, nasal regurgitation, etc. Esophageal dysphagia most commonly exhibits signs of odynophagia and inability to swallow solid food. It can be diagnosed using a modified barium swallow study, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, exfoliative cytology, esophagoscopy and laryngoscopy, among others. Based on a thorough evaluation of the condition, dysphagia can be managed by incorporating swallowing therapy, feeding tubes, dietary changes, surgery or medications. Adequate diet and hydration are essential and should be ensured throughout therapy. This book unravels the recent studies in dysphagia. The topics included herein are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. Students, researchers, experts and physicians will benefit alike from this book.