Which Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) instruments are currently used in Germany: a survey.

BACKGROUND: The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) records geriatric syndromes in a standardized manner, allowing individualized treatment tailored to the patient's needs and resources. Its use has shown a beneficial effect on the functional outcome and survival of geriatric patients. A recently published German S1 guideline for level 2 CGA provides recommendations for the use of a broad variety of different assessment instruments for each geriatric syndrome. However, the actual use of assessment instruments in routine geriatric clinical practice and its consistency with the guideline and the current state of literature has not been investigated to date. METHODS: An online survey was developed by an expert group of geriatricians and sent to all licenced geriatricians (n = 569) within Germany. The survey included the following geriatric syndromes: motor function and self-help capability, cognition, depression, pain, dysphagia and nutrition, social status and comorbidity, pressure ulcers, language and speech, delirium, and frailty. Respondents were asked to report which geriatric assessment instruments are used to assess the respective syndromes. RESULTS: A total of 122 clinicians participated in the survey (response rate: 21%); after data cleaning, 76 data sets remained for analysis. All participants regularly used assessment instruments in the following categories: motor function, self-help capability, cognition, depression, and pain. The most frequently used instruments in these categories were the Timed Up and Go (TUG), the Barthel Index (BI), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Limited or heterogenous assessments are used in the following categories: delirium, frailty and social status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the assessment of motor function, self-help capability, cognition, depression, pain, and dysphagia and nutrition is consistent with the recommendations of the S1 guideline for level 2 CGA. Instruments recommended for more frequent use include the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the WHO-5 (depression). There is a particular need for standardized assessment of delirium, frailty and social status. The harmonization of assessment instruments throughout geriatric departments shall enable more effective treatment and prevention of age-related diseases and syndromes.

Validation of the DIGEST-FEES as a Global Outcome Measure for Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease.

Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is one of two diagnostic gold standards for pharyngeal dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD), however, validated global outcome measures at the patient level are widely lacking. The Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (DIGEST-FEES) represents such an outcome measure but has been validated primarily for head and neck cancer collectives. The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate the validity of the DIGEST-FEES in patients with PD. Content validity was evaluated with a modified Delphi expert survey. Subsequently, 66 FEES videos in PD patients were scored with the DIGEST-FEES. Criterion validity was determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient between the DIGEST-FEES and the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), the Yale-Residue-Rating-Scale, the Functional-Oral-Intake-Scale (FOIS), and the swallowing-related Unified-Parkinson-Disease-Rating-Scale (UPDRS) items. Inter-rater reliability was determined using 10 randomly selected FEES-videos examined by a second rater. As a result, the overall DIGEST-FEES-rating exhibited significant correlations with the Yale-Valleculae-Residue-Scale (r = 0.84; p < 0.001), the Yale-Pyriform-Sinus-Residue-Scale (r = 0.70; p < 0.001), the FOIS (r = - 0.55, p < 0.001), and the UPDRS-Swallowing-Item-Score (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Further, the DIGEST-FEES-safety subscore correlated with the PAS (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Inter-rater reliability was high for the overall DIGEST-FEES rating (quadratic weighted kappa of 0.82). Therefore, DIGEST-FEES is a valid and reliable score to evaluate overall pharyngeal dysphagia severity in PD. Nevertheless, the modified Delphi survey identified domains where DIGEST-FEES may need to be specifically adapted to PD or neurological collectives in the future.

Bilateral vocal cord palsy as complication of CNS tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis, a rare but severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, frequently affects cranial nerves. While nerves III, VI and VII are commonly involved, involvement of caudal cranial nerves is rarely described. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral vocal cord palsy secondary to caudal cranial nerve involvement in tuberculous meningoencephalitis, that occurred in Germany, a country with low tuberculosis incidence. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman was transferred for further treatment of hydrocephalus as a complication of presumed bacterial meningitis with unknown pathogen at that time. Because of decreased consciousness, intubation was performed and an empiric antibiotic therapy with ampicillin, ceftriaxone and acyclovir was initiated. Upon admission to our hospital, an external ventricular drainage was placed. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the causative pathogen, and antitubercular treatment was initiated. Extubation was possible one week after admission. Eleven days later, the patient developed inspiratory stridor that worsened within a few hours. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) revealed new-onset bilateral vocal cord palsy as the cause of respiratory distress, which required re-intubation and tracheostomy. The bilateral vocal cord palsy persisted despite continued antitubercular therapy on the follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Considering the aetiology of infectious meningitis, cranial nerve palsies may be suggestive for tuberculous meningitis as underlying disease given their rarity in other bacterial forms of meningitis. Nevertheless, intracranial involvement of inferior cranial nerves is rare even in this specific entity, as only extracranial lesions of inferior cranial nerves have been reported in tuberculosis. With this report of a rare case of bilateral vocal cord palsy due to intracranial involvement of the vagal nerves, we emphasize the importance of timely initiation of treatment for tuberculous meningitis. This may help to prevent serious complications and associated poor outcome since the response to anti-tuberculosis therapy may be limited.

[Diagnostics and treatment of post-stroke dysphagia]. / Diagnostik und Therapie der Dysphagie nach einem Schlaganfall.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke dysphagia is highly prevalent and leads to severe complications, such as aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Despite the high clinical relevance dysphagia management is heterogeneous and often inadequate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of the diagnostic and treatment strategies for post-stroke dysphagia based on recent studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Narrative literature review. RESULTS: Dysphagia screening should be performed as early as possible in every stroke patient, e.g., with a simple water swallowing test or a multiconsistency protocol. Subsequently, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is indicated in patients with abnormal screening results or existing risk factors for dysphagia. Dietary modifications, oral hygiene measures, and nutritional therapy can help reduce complications. Behavioral swallowing therapy or experimental therapies, such as neurostimulation procedures and pharmacological approaches aim to improve swallowing function and have shown promising results in studies. CONCLUSION: Timely management of dysphagia is necessary to reduce complications.

Detecting myositis as a cause of unexplained dysphagia: Proposal for a diagnostic algorithm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) can present with dysphagia as a leading or only symptom. In such cases, diagnostic evaluation may be difficult, especially if serological and electromyographical findings are unsuspicious. In this observational study we propose and evaluate a diagnostic algorithm to identify IIM as a cause of unexplained dysphagia. METHODS: Over a period of 4 years, patients with unexplained dysphagia were offered diagnostic evaluation according to a specific algorithm: The pattern of dysphagia was characterized by instrumental assessment (swallowing endoscopy, videofluoroscopy, high-resolution manometry). Patients with an IIM-compatible dysphagia pattern were subjected to further IIM-focused diagnostic procedures, including whole-body muscle magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, creatine kinase blood level, IIM antibody panel and, as a final diagnostic step, muscle biopsy. Muscle biopsies were taken from affected muscles. In cases where no other muscles showed abnormalities, the cricopharyngeal muscle was targeted. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients presented with IIM-compatible dysphagia as a leading or only symptom. As a result of the specific diagnostic approach, 19 of these patients were diagnosed with IIM according to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Eighteen patients received immunomodulatory therapy as a result of the diagnosis. Of 10 patients with follow-up swallowing examination, dysphagia improved in three patients after therapy, while it remained at least stable in six patients. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy constitutes a potentially treatable etiology in patients with unexplained dysphagia. The diagnostic algorithm presented in this study helps to identify patients with an IIM-compatible dysphagia pattern and to assign those patients for further IIM-focused diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Targeting the sensory feedback within the swallowing network-Reversing artificially induced pharyngolaryngeal hypesthesia by central and peripheral stimulation strategies.

Pharyngolaryngeal hypesthesia is a major reason for dysphagia in various neurological diseases. Emerging neuromodulation devices have shown potential to foster dysphagia rehabilitation, but the optimal treatment strategy is unknown. Because functional imaging studies are difficult to conduct in severely ill patients, we induced a virtual sensory lesion in healthy volunteers and evaluated the effects of central and peripheral neurostimulation techniques. In a sham-controlled intervention study with crossover design on 10 participants, we tested the potential of (peripheral) pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) and (central) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to revert the effects of lidocaine-induced pharyngolaryngeal hypesthesia on central sensorimotor processing. Changes were observed during pharyngeal air-pulse stimulation and voluntary swallowing applying magnetoencephalography before and after the interventions. PES induced a significant (p < .05) increase of activation during swallowing in the bihemispheric sensorimotor network in alpha and low gamma frequency ranges, peaking in the right premotor and left primary sensory area, respectively. With pneumatic stimulation, significant activation increase was found after PES in high gamma peaking in the left premotor area. Significant changes of brain activation after tDCS could neither be detected for pneumatic stimulation nor for swallowing. Due to the peripheral cause of dysphagia in this model, PES was able to revert the detrimental effects of reduced sensory input on central processing, whereas tDCS was not. Results may have implications for therapeutic decisions in the clinical context.

Expiratory Muscle Strength Training for Therapy of Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Pharyngeal dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common and clinically relevant symptom associated with poor nutrition intake, reduced quality of life, and aspiration pneumonia. Despite this, effective behavioral treatment approaches are rare. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify if 4 week of expiratory muscle strength training can improve pharyngeal dysphagia in the short and long term and is able to induce neuroplastic changes in cortical swallowing processing. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 50 patients with hypokinetic pharyngeal dysphagia, as confirmed by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, performed a 4-week expiratory muscle strength training. Twenty-five participants used a calibrated ("active") device, 25 used a sham handheld device. Swallowing function was evaluated directly before and after the training period, as well as after a period of 3 month using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Swallowing-related cortical activation was measured in 22 participants (active:sham; 11:11) using whole-head magnetencephalography. RESULTS: The active group showed significant improvement in the flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing-based dysphagia score after 4 weeks and after 3 months, whereas in the sham group no significant changes from baseline were observed. Especially, clear reduction in pharyngeal residues was found. Regarding the cortical swallowing network before and after training, no statistically significant differences were found by magnetencephalography examination. CONCLUSIONS: Four-week expiratory muscle strength training significantly reduces overall dysphagia severity in PD patients, with a sustained effect after 3 months compared with sham training. This was mainly achieved by improving swallowing efficiency. The treatment effect is probably caused by peripheral mechanisms, as no changes in the cortical swallowing network were identified. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Predictors, outcome and characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a clinical hallmark of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). This study investigated predictors, outcome, and characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with different types of IIM. METHODS: Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) videos of 71 IIM patients were retrospectively analyzed for bolus spillage, penetration, aspiration, and pharyngeal residue. Based on these findings, dysphagia severity was rated. Regression analyses were performed to investigate demographic and disease-specific predictors of dysphagia severity and pneumonia as outcome-relevant complications of dysphagia. A score was developed to rate the quality of the endoscopic white-out as a surrogate marker for pharyngeal muscle weakness with consecutive residue. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed no independent predictors of dysphagia severity. Dysphagia severity, however, was an independent predictor for pneumonia, which occurred in 24% of patients. Pharyngeal residue with risk of postdeglutitive aspiration was the most common dysphagia pattern. Attenuation of the endoscopic white-out was related to residue severity. DISCUSSION: Dysphagia in IIM assessed with FEES is associated with relevant complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, and must be considered independently of peripheral muscle weakness and disease duration. Swallowing impairment mainly presents with pharyngeal residue. The quality of the white-out may serve as a semi-quantitative surrogate marker for pharyngeal contractility.

Effect of cognitive and motor dual-task on oropharyngeal swallowing in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia frequently occurs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with severe complications. However, the underlying pathology is poorly understood at present. This study investigated the effect of cognitive and motor dual-task interference on oropharyngeal swallowing in PD. METHODS: Thirty PD patients (23 men, mean age 65.90 ± 9.32 years, mean Hoehn and Yahr stage 2.62 ± 0.81, mean UPDRS 18.00 ± 7.18) were examined using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). FEES was performed during three paradigms: at baseline without interference, during a cognitive dual-task, and during a motor dual-task. Oropharyngeal swallowing function was rated using a score which was validated to detect changes in PD related dysphagia. The three paradigms were compared using a two-way-repetitive-measures-ANOVA and a post-hoc-analysis. RESULTS: Mean swallowing score in baseline FEES was 10.67 ± 5.89. It significantly increased (worsened) to 15.97 ± 7.62 (p < 0.001) in the motor dual-task and to 14.55 ± 7.49 (p < 0.001) in the cognitive dual-task. Premature bolus spillage and pharyngeal residue both significantly increased during both of the dual-task conditions whereas penetration/aspiration events did not change. CONCLUSION: Oropharyngeal swallowing in patients with PD is not purely reflexive but requires mental capacity. Additional allocation of attentional resources in the central control of swallowing seems to be an effective compensatory mechanism in PD-related dysphagia: The proposed dual-task protocol may be useful to challenge swallowing functional reserve. Conversely, as a therapeutic strategy, it could be beneficial to focus attention on swallowing and to avoid dual-task situations.

Dysphagia in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease as a surrogate of brain involvement?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD) are demyelinating disorders that typically affect the optic nerves and the spinal cord. However, recent studies have demonstrated various forms of brain involvement indicating encephalitic syndromes, which consequently are included in the diagnostic criteria for both. Swallowing is processed in a distributed brain network and is therefore disturbed in many neurological diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in NMOSD and MOGAD using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) as a surrogate parameter of brain involvement. METHODS: Thirteen patients with NMOSD and MOGAD (mean age 54.2 ± 18.6 years, six men) who received FEES during clinical routine were retrospectively reviewed. Their extent of oropharyngeal dysphagia was rated using an ordinal dysphagia severity scale. FEES results were compared to a control group of healthy individuals. Dysphagia severity was correlated with the presence of clinical and radiological signs of brain involvement, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the occurrence of pneumonia. RESULTS: Oropharyngeal dysphagia was present in 8/13 patients, including six patients without other clinical indication of brain involvement. Clinical or subclinical swallowing impairment was significantly more severe in patients with NMOSD and MOGAD compared to the healthy individuals (p = 0.009) and correlated with clinical signs of brain involvement (p = 0.038), higher EDSS (p = 0.006) and pneumonia (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Oropharyngeal dysphagia can occur in NMOSD and MOGAD and might be associated with pneumonia and disability. FEES may help to detect subclinical brain involvement.

Extubation Readiness in Critically Ill Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose- Predicting safe extubation represents a clinical challenge in acute stroke patients. Classical respiratory weaning criteria have not proven reliable. Concerning the paramount relevance of postextubation dysphagia in this population, criteria related to airway safety seem to perform better, but diagnostic standards are lacking. We compare clinical and instrumental swallowing examination tools to assess extubation readiness and propose a simple Determine Extubation Failure in Severe Stroke score for decision making. Methods- Data of 133 orally intubated acute stroke patients were prospectively collected in this observational study. Classical extubation criteria, a modified semiquantitative airway score, and an oral motor function score were assessed before extubation. A 3-ounce water swallow test and validated 6-point fiberoptic endoscopic dysphagia severity scoring were performed thereafter. Association of demographic and clinical parameters with extubation failure (EF) was investigated. Independent predictors of EF were translated into a point scoring system. Ideal cutoff values were determined by receiver operator characteristics analyses. Results- Patients with EF (24.1% after 24±43 hours) performed worse in all swallowing assessments (P<0.001). Fiberoptic endoscopic dysphagia severity scoring was the only independent predictor of EF (adjusted odds ratio, 4.2; P<0.007) with optimal cutoff ≥5 (sensitivity 84.6% and specificity 76.5%). Restricting regression analysis to parameters collected before extubation, a 4-item Determine Extubation Failure in Severe Stroke score (duration of ventilation, the examination of oral motor function, infratentorial lesion, and stroke severity) was derived. The score demonstrated excellent discrimination (area under the curve 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.95) and calibration (Nagelkerkes R2=0.54) with an ideal cutoff ≥4 (sensitivity: 81.3% and specificity: 78.2%). Conclusions- Risk of EF is strongly correlated with postextubation dysphagia severity in stroke. Fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing best predicts necessity of reintubation but requires a trial of extubation. The Determine Extubation Failure In Severe Stroke score is based on easy to collect clinical data and may guide extubation decision making in critically ill stroke patients.

Predicting Dysphagia with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale: Distinction between Infra- and Supratentorial Region is Essential.

BACKGROUND: For the early detection of post-stroke dysphagia (PSD), valid screening parameters are crucial as part of a step-wise diagnostic procedure. This study examines the role of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIH-SS) as a potential low-threshold screening parameter. METHODS: During a ten-year period, 687 newly admitted patients at University Hospital Muenster were included in a retrospective analysis, if they had ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke confirmed by neuroimaging and had received NIH-SS scoring and endoscopic swallowing evaluation upon admission. The NIH-SS score was correlated with dysphagia severity as measured by the validated 6-point fiberoptic endoscopic dysphagia severity score (FEDSS), and the ideal cut-off score to predict PSD, defined as FEDSS > 1, was calculated. Supra- and infratentorial strokes were analysed separately due to their differing role in the pathophysiology of neurogenic dysphagia. RESULTS: NIH-SS and dysphagia severity show a significant positive correlation in the whole study population (R2 = 0.745) as well as in both analysed subgroups (R2 = 0.494 for supra- and R2 = 0.646 for infratentorial strokes, p < 0.0005, respectively). For supratentorial strokes, the ideal NIH-SS cut-off is > 9 (sensitivity 68.3%, specificity 61.5%, positive predictive value 89.7%, negative predictive value 28.4%). For infratentorial strokes, a lower ideal cut-off > 5 was calculated (sensitivity 67.4%, specificity 85.0%, positive predictive value 95.1%, negative predictive value 37.8%). CONCLUSIONS: NIH-SS may be used as an adjunct to predict dysphagia in acute stroke patients with moderate sensitivity and specificity. Differentiation between supra- and infratentorial regions is essential not to miss dysphagia in infratentorial stroke.

New and Evolving Treatments for Neurologic Dysphagia.

Despite swallowing being a frequently performed daily function, it is highly complex. For a safe swallow to occur, muscles within the head, neck, and thorax need to contract in a concerted pattern, controlled by several swallowing centers at multiple levels of the central nervous system, including the midbrain, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum in addition to five cranial nerves. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is caused by a long list of pathologic processes and diseases, which can interfere with various stages along the swallowing sensorimotor pathway. When present, dysphagia leads to increased mortality, morbidity, hospital length of stay, and reduced quality of life. Current dysphagia management approaches, such as altering the texture and consistency of foods and fluids and teaching patients rehabilitative exercises, have been broadly unchanged for many years and, in the case of texture modification, are of uncertain effectiveness. However, evidence is emerging in support of new medication-based and neuromodulatory treatment approaches. Regarding medication-based therapies, most research has focused on capsaicinoids, which studies have shown are able to improve swallowing in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Separately, albeit convergently, in the field of neuromodulation, there is a growing and positive evidential base behind three non-invasive brain stimulation techniques: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), and pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES). Should some or all of these emerging therapies fulfill their promise, dysphagia-related patient outcomes may be improved. This paper describes the current state of our understanding regarding new medication and neuromodulation-based neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia treatments.

Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation prior to extubation - Reduction of extubation failure rate in acute stroke patients?

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess if PES before extubation can minimize the extubation failure risk in orally intubated, mechanically ventilated stroke patients at high risk of severe dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two ICU patients were prospectively enrolled in this study presenting with a high risk for dysphagia as defined by a DEFISS (Determine Extubation Failure In Severe Stroke) risk score and compared 1:1 to a retrospective matched patient control group. The prospective patient group received PES prior to extubation. Endpoints were need for reintubation, swallowing function as assessed with FEES, pneumonia incidence and length of stay after extubation. RESULTS: Post-extubation, the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Score (FEDSS, 4.31 ± 1.53vs.5.03 ± 1.28;p = 0.047) and reintubation rate within 72 h (9.4vs.34.4%;p = 0.032) were significantly lower in the PES group than in the historical control group. Pulmonary infections after extubation were less common in PES-treated patients although this difference was not significant (37.5vs.59.4%;p = 0.133). Time from extubation to discharge was significantly shorter after PES compared with the control group (14.09 ± 11.58vs.26.59 ± 20.49 days;p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In orally intubated and mechanically ventilated stroke patients at high risk of severe dysphagia, PES may improve swallowing function, reduce extubation failure risk and decrease time from extubation to discharge. Further research is required.

Dysphagia after stroke: research advances in treatment interventions.

After a stroke, most patients have dysphagia, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and adverse functional outcomes. Protective interventions aimed at reducing these complications remain the cornerstone of treatment. Dietary adjustments and oral hygiene help mitigate the risk of aspiration pneumonia, and nutritional supplementation, including tube feeding, might be needed to prevent malnutrition. Rehabilitative interventions aim to enhance swallowing function, with different behavioural strategies showing promise in small studies. Investigations have explored the use of pharmaceutical agents such as capsaicin and other Transient-Receptor-Potential-Vanilloid-1 (TRPV-1) sensory receptor agonists, which alter sensory perception in the pharynx. Neurostimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and pharyngeal electrical stimulation, might promote neuroplasticity within the sensorimotor swallowing network. Further advancements in the understanding of central and peripheral sensorimotor mechanisms in patients with dysphagia after a stroke, and during their recovery, will contribute to optimising treatment protocols.

Systematic approach to contextualize findings of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in neurogenic dysphagia- towards an integrated FEES report.

Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is one of the most important methods for instrumental swallowing evaluation. The most challenging part of the examination consists in the interpretation of the various observations encountered during endoscopy and in the deduction of clinical consequences. This review proposes the framework for an integrated FEES-report that systematically moves from salient findings of FEES to more advanced domains such as dysphagia severity, phenotypes of swallowing impairment and pathomechanisms. Validated scales and scores are used to enhance the diagnostic yield. In the concluding part of the report, FEES-findings are put into the perspective of the clinical context. The potential etiology of dysphagia and conceivable differential diagnoses are considered, further diagnostic steps are proposed, treatment options are evaluated, and a timeframe for re-assessment is suggested. This framework is designed to be adaptable and open to continuous evolution. Additional items, such as novel FEES protocols, pathophysiological observations, advancements in disease-related knowledge, and new treatment options, can be easily incorporated. Moreover, there is potential for customizing this approach to report on FEES in structural dysphagia.

Costs of post-stroke dysphagia during acute hospitalization from a health-insurance perspective.

Purpose: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common and complication-prone symptom after stroke and is assumed to increase medical expenses. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine acute hospitalization costs associated with post-stroke dysphagia. Method: This retrospective study included patients with acute stroke who had been examined by Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). Health insurance expenditures were determined for the patient cases according to the 2021 revenue criteria. Multiple linear regression was used to examine predictors of health insurance spending including age, sex, stroke severity, stroke characteristics, comorbidity, therapeutic interventions, duration of artificial ventilation, length of hospital stay, and severity of dysphagia, as assessed by the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS), ranging from 1 (best) to 6 (worst). Findings: Six hundred seventy four patients (men/women: 367/307; mean age: 71.1 ± 12.8 years; mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale: 11.2 ± 6.2; FEDSS 1/2/3/4/5/6: 113/73/144/119/124/101; mean health-insurance costs 11,521.5 ± 12,950.5€) were included in the analysis. Advanced age (p = 0.007; B = 57.6), catheter interventions (p < 0.001; B = 4105.6), tracheotomy (p = 0.006; B = 5195.2), duration of artificial ventilation (p < 0.001; B = 388.6), length of hospital stay (p < 0.001; B = 441.9), and severe dysphagia with an FEDSS of 6 (p = 0.004, B = 2554.3) were independent predictors of increased health insurance expenditures (p < 0.001, R-squared = adjusted-R-squared = 0.83). Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study show an association between severe dysphagia and health care costs for acute hospitalization from a health-insurance perspective. Therefore, therapies that target severe dysphagia with impaired secretion management may have the potential to reduce costs.

The assessment of dysphagia after stroke: state of the art and future directions.

Dysphagia is a major complication following an acute stroke that affects the majority of patients. Clinically, dysphagia after stroke is associated with increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, mortality, and other adverse functional outcomes. Pathophysiologically, dysphagia after stroke is caused by disruption of an extensive cortical and subcortical swallowing network. The screening of patients for dysphagia after stroke should be provided as soon as possible, starting with simple water-swallowing tests at the bedside or more elaborate multi-consistency protocols. Subsequently, a more detailed examination, ideally with instrumental diagnostics such as flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing or video fluoroscopy is indicated in some patients. Emerging diagnostic procedures, technical innovations in assessment tools, and digitalisation will improve diagnostic accuracy in the future. Advances in the diagnosis of dysphagia after stroke will enable management based on individual patterns of dysfunction and predisposing risk factors for complications. Progess in dysphagia rehabilitation are essential to reduce mortality and improve patients' quality of life after a stroke.