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Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_4517_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана

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DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: A TEAM APPROACH
tongue base helps to propel the bolus inferiorly into the esophagus and also directs it away from the opening of the airway.
Lastly, the laryngeal structures, in­cluding the true vocal folds and the ventricular folds, close during deglu­tition, which effectively seals off the airway as the bolus passes through the pharynx and into the esophagus. Alit­tle puff of air that occurs as the vocal folds close also directs the bolus up and off the opening to the airway. The epiglottis acts like a lid above the true vocal folds and closes down over the entrance to the upper airway.
Any disruption of these airway pro­tection mechanisms can lead to com­promised airway protection and aspi­ration. Neuromuscular disease that results in muscular weakness or palsies of the muscles involved in structural movements needed for airway protec­tion are obvious causes of dysphagia risk, but airway protection mecha­nisms can be disrupted by many other pathologies such as bulky masses or tumors, strictures or scarring (common after head and neck radiation therapy), or the need for an artificial airway or tracheostomy tube. The placement of a tracheostomy tube potentially disrupts upward and forward movement of the hyolaryngeal complex by tethering the trachea to the skin of the lower neck.
PULMONARY RISK FACTORS
Patients with preexisting pulmonary disease who become dysphagic have a diminished ability to tolerate even mild aspiration. Aspiration insults are very poorly tolerated by an already compro­mised pulmonary system. Pulmonary
diseases include all the smoking-related lung diseases sema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. Patients with cardio­pulmonary pathologies such as cardio­myopathies, pulmonary hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases are also at heightened risk for pulmonary complications from dysphagia.
— for example, emphy-
ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA
True aspiration pneumonia has a typi­cal radiographic pattern. The pattern demonstrates infiltration or consoli dation most commonly in the right lower lobe, next most often in the right upper lobe, and less frequently in the left lower lobe. Rarely are all three lobes involved at the same time. This distri­bution is a consequence of the angle of the tracheobronchial takeoff into the parenchyma of the right lung. The right lower lobe represents a straight line of descent from the trachea to the right main stem bronchus. In a patient who is supine, or lying on the right side, the right upper lobe takeoff from the right main stem bronchus represents a dependent position. The left lobe is in a dependent position in the left side­lying position. Therefore, the common sites of aspiration are influenced largely by gravity and human anatomy.
The diagnosis of aspiration pneumo­nia in a patient relies on both clinical and radiographic signs. Clinical findings of aspiration include fever, shortness of breath, weakness, and cough. Sputum may be thick, colored, and difficult to expel by coughing. Chest auscultation may reveal rhonchi in the large airways, and breath sounds are decreased over
-
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the consolidated lung (solidification of the lung secondary to pneumonia) and may even sound hollow (Yoshimatsu et al., 2022). Chest x-ray will demon­strate consolidation of the involved portion of the lungs. To ensure appro­priate treatment, pneumonia related to dysphagia, or difficulty eating and drinking, must be differentiated from a pneumonia related to a single aspi­ration event or a community acquired pneumonia from other etiologies.
Aspiration pneumonia may be a result of material entering the lungs in a single aspiration event during a period of altered level of consciousness, such as can occur in trauma, diabetic coma, or acute myocardial infarction with loss of consciousness. Under general anesthesia, or even conscious sedation, the patient is unable to fully protect the airway. During a surgery under anesthesia, reflux of stomach contents may occur as the lower esophageal sphincter is relaxed, leading to the potential for aspiration. This risk is increased if the patient has eaten close to the time of the surgery. Similarly, individuals who have eaten a meal and then experience a traumatic event lead­ing to unconsciousness are at very high risk for aspiration. This type of aspira­tion may be preceded by vomiting and
may have devastating consequences for the lungs.
Repeated aspiration may occur in a cognitively intact and awake patient with an ongoing inability to pro­tect the airway during oral nutrition due to ineffective airway protection mechanisms (i.e., dysphagia). “Silent” aspiration (when a patient does not respond to aspiration with a cough) may go undetected (Horner & Massey, 1988; Splaingard et al., 1988). Patients who chronically aspirate may become undernourished and unable to main­tain their weight and are diagnosed as failing to thrive. Immunological risk is heightened because of the lack of ade­quate protein, albumin, and fat stores to maintain normal body function. Laryn­geal cancer patients often initially pres­ent with aspiration and cachexia. Both occurring at the same time portend for a poor outcome as both fat and pro­tein stores are depleted (Esper & Harb,
2005) (Table 12–1).
Under normal circumstances, the pulmonary system clears aspiration events with a cough to expel aspirated material. In addition, the mucociliary blanket lining the trachea and bronchi consists of cilia covered by a blanket of mucus that traps aspirated materi­als and moves them up and out of the
Table 12–1. Risk Factors for Aspiration
Single Aspiration Event Recurrent Aspiration
Decreased level of consciousness Feeding tube
Supine position Feeding tube malposition in esophagus
General anesthesia Bolus feeding
Intubation and mechanical ventilation Neurologic disorder
Vomiting Diabetes
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DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: A TEAM APPROACH
airway through the beating of the cilia. Repeated aspiration leads to pneumo­nia when the airway is unable to ade­quately maintain its normal physiologic hygiene and clearing. Long-term endo­tracheal intubation heightens a patient’s risk for repeated aspiration by the pres­ence of an artificial tube that interferes with the normal cough, impairs the cili­ary action of the lining of the trachea, and precludes the normal filtration and humidification of the nose and mouth. In addition, the presence of an artificial airway changes the normal bacterial flora in the mouth. Even with cuffed
endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, micro- and macro-aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree occurs. This is a
consequence of the constant expansion and contraction of the trachea during normal respiration and subsequent movement of the artificial airway cuff in the lumen of the trachea. Aspirated material sitting above the inflated cuff will unavoidably leak around the cuff and into the airway. The primary cause of pneumonia in patients on ventilators is the ongoing micro-aspiration around the cuff of the artificial airway. Poor oral care and changes in oral flora with bacterial overgrowth and poor denti­tion also increase the risk of ventilator­associated pneumonias (VAPs) via this mechanism (Minei et al., 2006; Munro & Grap, 2004; Niederman & Craven, 2005; Trieger, 2004).
An episode of severe, acute aspira­tion or chronic, repeated aspiration can cause pneumonia, which is best treated with appropriate antibiotics combined with aggressive respiratory therapy. Coughing, deep breathing, oxygen, and medication support are indicated. If not treated promptly or with the correct antibiotic regimen, the patient
can become dangerously ill. Today, an increase in antibiotic-resistant microor­ganisms makes some pneumonia vari­ants more difficult to treat. In a patient whose immune system has been threat­ened as a consequence of chemotherapy, significant deconditioning, or AIDS, pneumonia of any origin may be lethal.
If aspiration pneumonia is diag­nosed, the dysphagia team must be able to differentiate between aspiration caused by an inability to protect the air­way during eating and swallowing due to motor and/or sensory factors and aspiration from other causes. Whatever the etiology, early correct detection is tantamount to correct treatment and, ultimately, to recovery.
ASPIRATION PRECAUTIONS
Aspiration precautions are a set of rec­ommendations designed to minimize the risk of aspiration for a given patient during and in between meals. Aspira­tion precautions are indicated in many settings such as acute care hospitals, nursing homes, and at home. Precau­tions must be modified for each indi­vidual patient to match their type of dysphagia, nutritional needs, and treat­ment plan. Again, continual diligence is required to ensure aspiration precau­tions are effective because many dys­phagic patients aspirate without giv­ing any external sign of food or liquid entering the airway (Logemann, 1986).
Inpatient aspiration precautions may include the following:
Oral Feeding:
n
Do not allow patient to eat unat-
tended or unobserved.
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n
If patient is taking an oral diet,
follow the diet recommendations and restrictions generated by an objective dysphagia assessment plan. (Coordinate with the phy­sician’s orders for consistency, amount, and frequency.)
n
Position patient in optimally safe
upper body position as recom­mended, or 90 degrees in a chair with head/neck flexion, if possi­ble. Address head stability during meals.
n
Observe for coughing, choking,
throat clearing, or struggle during eating.
n
Minimize distractions (maintain
quiet environment, no television, no talking during eating).
n
Continually assess the patient’s
pulmonary status for fevers, rales, rhonchi, and clinical signs of as­piration.
Enteral Feeding:
n
Ensure placement of feeding tube
is confirmed by radiograph and monitor for evidence of tube mi­gration.
n
Observe reflux precautions (prop-
er positioning, limited nocturnal feeds, elevated head of the bed).
n
Check gastric residuals before be-
ginning enteral feeding (Metheny et al., 2012).
n
Improve oral care (Munro & Grap,
2004; Niederman et al., 2005).
Outpatient aspiration precautions are similar and may include:
Oral Feeding:
n
Avoid eating/drinking when alone.
Minimize distractions (quiet en-
vironment, no television, no talk­ing during eating).
n
Observe food consistency, amount,
and frequency recommendations by the dysphagia team.
n
Observe optimally safe upper
body position as recommended, or use 90-degree upper body posi­tion with chin tuck. Assess head stability during eating.
n
Ensure that family/caregivers are
familiar with the Heimlich maneu­ver, CPR, and signs of aspiration.
n
Note cough, throat clear, “wet”
voice, voice changes, and struggle associated with eating/drinking that indicate possible aspiration (Metheny, 2007).
n
Oral care before and after meals
(Munro & Grap, 2004).
Enteral Feeding:
n
Monitor tube position for evi-
dence that it has migrated.
n
Observe reflux positioning.
n
Check gastric residuals before
feeding (Metheny et al., 2012). Monitor and document tolerance or intolerance to the enteral feed­ing regimen.
REFLUX PRECAUTIONS
Patients with a history of reflux dis­ease are at risk of aspiration of refluxed materials from the stomach. Although reflux presents a potential aspiration risk, it should not be treated empiri­cally in order to avoid treatment with inappropriate medications and imple­mentation of unnecessary reflux pre­cautions. If reflux is suspected, a refer­ral to a physician with expertise in the
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DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: A TEAM APPROACH
diagnosis and management of reflux disease is recommended.
Individuals whose primary mode of nutrition is by feeding tube (NG, NJ, GT/J) are still susceptible to aspira­tion from gastroesophageal reflux and improper placement or migration of the enteral tube. Gastrointestinal (GI) reflux may occur with either continu­ous or bolus feeding and can also occur with gastric secretions alone. Reflux and potential aspiration in patients with gastrostomy tubes can be caused by lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation secondary to gastric disten­tion of the stomach (Takahashi et al., 1994b). These patients require rigorous monitoring because this type of aspira­tion may be silent, and its symptoms are elusive to cursory examination. Vomit­ing, coughing, retching, or pharyngeal suctioning can cause the distal tip of a feeding tube to migrate upward into the esophagus or downward into the duodenum. Additionally, the tube may become coiled in the pharynx (Simons & Abdallah, 2012).
Coughing following a feeding (espe­cially bolus feeding), with a full stom­ach, is a strong indication of reflux and potential aspiration. When feeding is administered lower in the GI tract, via jejunostomy, reflux of gastric acid after feeding may still occur (Coben et al., 1994; Sands, 1991). The acidity (pH <3) of the gastric secretions can be extremely damaging to the larynx and lungs.
Proper position and monitoring of the enteral feeding tube are critical to the correct administration of nutri­tion. Radiographic documentation of tube placement prior to use is the stan­dard of care (McClave et al., 2009). If the patient is discharged home with an enteral feeding tube, family members
should be taught assessment for place­ment. In the home, belly auscultation with instillation of air through the tube, measurement of tube length outside the nose, and gastric content checks are used to assess correct placement of enteral tubes. A repeat radiograph may be indicated if there is any concern regarding the clinical ability to confirm proper tube placement.
TRACHEOSTOMY
Tracheostomy tubes bypass the upper aerodigestive tract and create an open­ing directly into the pulmonary system via an opening in the trachea below the larynx (Figure 12–1). They can be
Figure 12–1. Position of tracheostomy tube
relative to other aerodigestive tract struc­tures. Blue arrow: air flow into the tracheos­tomy bypassing the upper airway.
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a temporary or long-term requirement and usually heal spontaneously after removal of the tube with very little per­manent impact. In patients with an arti­ficial airway in place such as a tracheos­tomy, the disease process necessitating the artificial airway, as well as the pres­ence of the appliance, may influence the patient’s ability to swallow.
Tracheostomies are often performed in individuals who require mechanical ventilation for longer than approxi­mately 10 days. The presence of an orally or nasally placed endotracheal tube in the upper airway and through the larynx for a longer period of time than 10 days is associated with laryn­geal scaring due to injury of those tis­sues by the endotracheal tube (Whited,
1984) (Figure 12–2). Removing the endotracheal tube and replacing it with a tracheostomy tube protects upper air­way tissues, is more comfortable for the patient and allows less patient sedation,
and is associated with faster weaning from the ventilator (Bosel et al., 2013; Zheng et al., 2012). Ongoing mechani­cal ventilation requires that the trache­ostomy tube have an inflated cuff in the trachea.
It must be kept in mind that vocal­ization requires exhaled air to pass through the vocal folds. With a cuffed tracheostomy tube, exhalation of air around the cuff and through the vocal folds is not possible and patients will not be able to vocalize. Exhaled air will pass out of the tube rather than through the vocal folds (Figure 12–3).
In addition, the inflated cuff will not prevent aspirated material from enter­ing the lower airways and may further impede normal swallowing mecha­nisms. An inflated endotracheal tube
cuff may impinge on the esophagus as the trachea is supported by C-shaped rings that encompass the anterior and lateral sides of the trachea while the
Figure 12–2. Orotracheal intubation results in pressure on the posterior laryngeal
tissues.
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DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: A TEAM APPROACH
Figure 12–3. A cuffed tracheostomy allows positive pressure ventilation without leak
of air out the upper airway but also prevents air flowing through the vocal folds as is required for speech.
posterior wall of the trachea is mucosa only. Inflation of the cuff may protrude into the adjacent esophagus because of this lack of support of the posterior tra­cheal wall.
Another indication for placement of a tracheostomy tube is obstruction of the upper airway that prevents adequate ventilation. By bypassing the upper air­way, the tracheostomy tube allows air to be inhaled directly into the lungs. In this situation, the patient may be able to breathe without the need for mechani-
cal ventilation so a cuffed endotracheal tube is not needed. The tube can be sized so that it does not completely fill the airway and exhaled air may pass around the tube and through the vocal folds for vocalization (Figure 12–4). Air will flow out of the lungs preferentially through the passage of least resistance (the tracheostomy) so a finger or valve over the tracheostomy tube opening must be used to force exhaled air to flow around the tracheostomy tube and through the vocal folds for speech
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tube and into the trachea. B. During exhalation, if the opening of the tracheostomy tube is blocked by a finger or speaking valve,
Figure 12–4. Illustration of a cuffless tracheostomy tube within the airway. A. With inhalation, air passes through the tracheostomy
air passes around the tube and through the vocal folds to allow vocalization.
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DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: A TEAM APPROACH
rather than out the low-resistance tra­cheostomy tube.
All tracheostomy tubes require an inner cannula (Figure 12–5A). Mucus and secretions that normally flow up and out of the trachea via the muco­ciliary blanket and are usually swal­lowed will likely be coughed out of the tracheostomy tube directly. Mucus catches in the tracheostomy tube and may obstruct the tube, interfering with air passage. Frequent suctioning of the tube is required to keep the tracheos­tomy free of mucus and secretions. The inner cannula can be quickly removed to reestablish an open airway in the case the tracheostomy becomes com­pletely obstructed by mucus.
Direct suctioning of the airway through a tracheostomy tube is an effective means of assisting in pulmo­nary toilet. Patients may have a trache­ostomy tube placed to allow for suc­tioning of material from the lungs and not due to the need for mechanical ven­tilation or to bypass an upper airway obstruction. This is particularly helpful
in patients with severe primary pulmo­nary disease who have difficulty man­aging normal pulmonary secretions.
Suctioning through a tracheostomy tube may cause a patient to cough, and the increased intrathoracic pres­sure generated during a cough may cause reflux. Consequently, suctioning should be effective to remove secre­tions but gentle to prevent the reflex­ive coughing, particularly if aspiration is suspected during a reflux episode. Following suctioning, a patient may be asked to cough voluntarily, without suction, to further determine if there is refluxed material in the airway, but this is not always a reliable indicator.
In a patient with a tracheostomy and a feeding tube, blue vegetable dye placed in a very small amount of the tube feeding formula can be a useful test for reflux of the feedings and subse­quent aspiration. If secretions suctioned from the tracheostomy turn blue, aspi­ration is confirmed (Metheny et al.,
2002). The presence of food (or enteral feeding in the case of a tube-fed patient)
A B
Figure 12–5. Cuffed and cuffless tracheostomy tubes have an inner cannula and an
obturator to aid in tube placement through the surgical opening. © 2023 Medtronic. All rights reserved. Used with the permission of Medtronic.
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in a tracheostomy or of endotracheal secretions is an obvious indicator of aspiration or reflux and aspiration. This observation requires an immedi­ate response from the treatment team to manage an aspiration event. Patients with an artificial airway in place should be immediately suctioned in the event of a witnessed aspiration.
TRACHEOSTOMY TUBES
Clinicians involved in the care of the person with dysphagia must have an intimate knowledge of the kinds, uses, and complications of artificial airways used in their patient population. The following is an overview of some of the types of tracheostomy tubes used in the acute care setting.
Cuffed tracheostomy tubes (Figure 12–5B) are used to seal the airway for positive pressure ventilation. Intracuff pressures are established at no more than 20 to 30 mm Hg in order not to exceed end capillary pressures of the tracheal walls causing necrosis of the tracheal tissues (McGuinnis et al., 1971). These tubes are typically used in critical care settings and with patients on posi­tive pressure ventilators or during sur­gical procedures requiring anesthesia.
Cuffed endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes do not prevent aspiration of food and secretions and should not be used with the intent to avoid aspiration in patients with dysphagia.
Patients are infrequently sent home with cuffed tracheostomy tubes. Cuffed tubes are appropriate for outpatients only if they require positive pressure ventilation, such as the patient with end-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). When a patient does not require
positive pressure ventilation and is breathing independently, the cuff is always deflated as soon as possible to avoid pressure and scarring of the tracheal walls (tracheal stenosis). Cuff deflation is the precursor to replacing the cuffed tube with a noncuffed tube.
Uncuffed/cuffless tracheostomy tubes (see Figure 12–5A) are used to provide an airway when the patient is able to breathe on their own but still requires assistance with secretion removal or to bypass upper airway obstruction. These tracheostomy tubes are typically used for short- or long­term airway support. The impact of a tracheostomy tube on swallowing func­tion is a subject of much debate. There is a concern, however, that a tracheos­tomy tube may tether the larynx and interfere with its normal elevation dur­ing swallow, further impairing swal­lowing ability in patients (Skoretz, et al.,
2020). The goal is to use the smallest tube possible that allows the patient to ventilate with maximum tidal volume without restriction.
Fenestrated tubes (Figure 12–6) are rarely used. They were initially devel­oped with the idea they might be help­ful for weaning and decannulation and are generally smaller in diameter than tubes used for traditional airway main­tenance. Fenestrated tubes have a series of openings or fenestra on the superior horizontal portion of the tube with the idea that air can flow through the fenes­tra, allowing for vocalization and some use of the upper airway for respiration. When the inner cannula is removed and the tube is capped, the patient is breath­ing via the fenestra, as well as around the tube. Fenestrated tubes are not left in place for long periods of time, no more than 3 to 5 days, because of the