Journal of Nursing & Care

Evidence-based Measures for Preventing Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia

Abstract

Shaista Jadoon*, Fiza Nasir, Azra Bibi, Muhahammad Tahir Jadoon and Irina Hawa Gul

Introduction: Dysphagia is related to swallowing and it is mostly associated with increase age, cerebral vascular disease, and dementia. Dysphagia increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia and readmission among elderly ill patients.

Methodology: The review of the literature was conducted through databases: Cochrane and PubMed.

Results: good oral hygiene care to their patients to prevent aspiration pneumonia .Senior citizens are prone to poor oral hygiene care because of dental disease and lack of oral hygiene care .Poor dentition increase bacterial oral infection chances, and secretion, lung aspiration, and aspiration pneumonia . There is a great risk of developing dehydration and malnutrition with increase fluid viscosity. Similarly, postural compensation should only recommend after careful swallowing assessment. Therefore, the results of thickeners in reducing the incidence of aspiration pneumonia are mixed. The imbalance in nutrition and aspiration is the most common indication for tube feeding in dysphagia patients. Expiratory muscle strength training is a swallowing rehabilitation technique for the restoration of swallowing functions. In summarization, interventions that showed that strongest evidence in preventing aspiration pneumonia were good oral hygiene. Good oral healthcare should be encouraged and reinforced in elderly patients. In limitations, potential confounders affecting the risk of aspiration pneumonia were unaddressed in all studies. Consequently, more robust research studies are required on the severity of dysphagia and to address potential confounders.

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