Virtual Dysphagia Evaluation: Practical Guidelines for Dysphagia Management in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Liuba Soldatova, Colleen Williams, Gregory N. Postma, Gary W. Falk, Natasha Mirza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

With encouraging signs of pandemic containment nationwide, the promise of return to a full range of clinical practice is on the horizon. Clinicians are starting to prepare for a transition from limited evaluation of emergent and urgent complaints to resumption of elective surgical procedures and routine office visits within the next few weeks to months. Otolaryngology as a specialty faces unique challenges when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the fact that a comprehensive head and neck examination requires aerosol-generating endoscopic procedures. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is far from being over and the future may hold other highly communicable infectious threats that may require similar precautions, standard approaches to the clinical evaluation of common otolaryngology complaints will have to be modified. In this communication, we present practical recommendations for dysphagia evaluation with modifications to allow a safe and comprehensive assessment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)455-458
Number of pages4
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
Volume163
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • barium esophagogram
  • dysphagia
  • flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
  • flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy
  • modified barium swallow
  • transnasal esophagoscopy
  • upper aerodigestive tract endoscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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