Management of dysphagic patients with acute stroke

This article describes expert recommendations on the management of patients with acute stroke, who might suffer from dysphagia. The main goal is to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia (AP). Nurses or physicians should perform the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) as soon as possible and speech-language therapists have to perform examinations comprising assessment of predictors for aspiration and for AP as well as the clinical swallowing assessment. Dependent on the results, flexible endoscopic or video fluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing has to be performed so that indications for enteral or oral feeding can be made. Furthermore, the risk of AP can be minimized. This article presents algorithms which enable decision-making with regard to diagnostic and therapeutic measures.