Dysphagia screening is recommended to be performed on all patients admitted with acute stroke as soon as possible before starting oral foods, fluids, or medications. This can then help identify the risk of aspiration and guide the most appropriate feeding format. But many different protocols exist, which may lead to confusion about which screening method to use and who should perform it.

The tool captures some of the most common protocols used in this setting to identify aspiration risk, recommend the most appropriate feeding route (enteral or oral) and food/fluid consistency, as well as indicate the possible need for more in-depth assessment.

Once aspiration risk has been assessed, dietary adjustments can be made by changing the texture and consistency of food and drinks, making them easier to swallow, reducing the risk of accidental inhalation, serious lung infection and malnutrition. In cases of severe swallowing difficulty, patients will need to receive their nutrition enterally, such as via nasogastric tube. Nutricia offers a large range of medical nutrition solutions to support the management of disease-related malnutrition, including in dysphagia.

* The Angels Initiative is a non-promotional, healthcare project of Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to support the ESO and WSO in implementing their main goal: to improve stroke care around the world. Nutricia’s support of the Angels Initiative aims to help healthcare professionals and stroke centres improve screening and nutritional management of dysphagia.