Brain Neurorehabil.  2009 Sep;2(2):91-97. 10.12786/bn.2009.2.2.91.

Post-Stroke Dysphagia: Incidence, Complications and Pattern Relates to Brain Lesion

• Kim DK

• KMID: 2308657
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12786/bn.2009.2.2.91

Abstract

Dysphagia is commonly observed in stroke patients. The precise locations of lesion and its effect that produce swallowing disorder remain to be determined. Unilateral hemispheric lesion as well as bilateral lesions and brainstem, which has nucleus for lower cranial nerves and neurons in swallowing centers, is also associated with dysphagia. Though the reported incidence of dysphagia is different among studies because of evaluation methods, up to half of acute stroke patients are affected by dysphagia, where its presence has been associated with risk of complications, such as pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration etc. These complications are also related with prolonged hospital stay and poor functional outcome. Most of the dysphagic patients will make a functional recovery and return to pre-stroke diet patterns after acute period but about twenty percent of patient would have significant problems in swallowing even after 6 months according to previous studies. This suggests that intensive management and serial follow up evaluation as well as early screening of dysphagia is one of the important treatment strategies in the management of stroke.

Keyword

complication; dysphagia; incidence; stroke