Successful treatment of dysphagia in a COVID-19 survivor

Authors

  • Richa Rashmi Department of Audio-Vestibule, Siliguri Speech and Hearing Clinic, Siliguri, West Bengal
  • Joyanta C. Mandal Department of Speech Language therapeutics, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of speech and Hearing Disability Divyangjan, RC, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Kavita Kumari Hearing Plus, Audio-vestibular Department, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Shruti S. Senapati Department of Speech Language therapeutics, OKTO health Care Unit, Kolkata, West Bengal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20213700

Keywords:

Dysphagia, COVID-19 infection, Aspiration, Swallowing, Swallowing manuever

Abstract

This study was aimed document a successful case of dysphagia management after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. COVID-19 is highly infectious disease and causes 75 million infection and 1.66 million deaths worldwide. Clinical features of COVID-19 including respiratory compromise, microvascular thrombosis and neurologic dysfunction as well as well as prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) care in severe cases yield patients particularly susceptible to mild to severe swallowing impairment which can persist for months or years after ICU discharge. A 52 years old female was diagnosed with severe pharyngo-oesophageal dysphagia after COVID-19 infection and was advised for swallowing therapy. The swallowing therapy was given thrice a week for 45 minutes including Masako, Shaker’s and modified Shaker’s exercise along with effortful swallow, Mendelsohn maneuvers and super-supraglottic swallow. After 2 weeks of swallowing therapy patient started taking semisolid food orally and maintain normal SpO2 level during feeding. This study concluded early intervention is the key to boost faster recovery and helped to improve patient’s quality of life. Swallowing manuvers and exercises were very effective for the management of dysphagia secondary to COVID-19 infection. This can be generalized and efficacy can be determined with large group of patients having swallowing difficulty after COVID-19 infection.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

World Health Organization. Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it. 2020. Available at: https://www.WHO.int/ emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it. Accessed on 24 March 2021.

Chen T, Wu D, Chen H, Yan W, Yang D, Chen G, et al. Clinical characteristics of 113 deceased patients with coronavirus disease 2019: retrospective study. BMJ. 2020;368:1091.

Brodsky MB, Pandian V, Needham DM. Post-extubation dysphagia: a problem needing multidisciplinary efforts. Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(1):93-6.

Caso V, Federico A. No lockdown for neurological diseases during COVID19 pandemic infection. Neurol Sci. 2020;41(5):999-1001.

Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, Ou CQ, He JX, et al. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(18):1708-20.

Frajkova Z, Tedla M, Tedlova E, Suchankova M, Geneid A. Postintubation Dysphagia During COVID-19 Outbreak-Contemporary Review. Dysphagia. 2020;35(4):549-57.

Murry T, Carrau R. The abnormal swallow: conditions and diseases. Clinical management of swallowing disorders. San Diego: Plural Publishing. 2006;2:17-32.

Fritz MA, Howell RJ, Brodsky MB, Suiter DM, Dhar SI, Rameau A, et al. Moving Forward with Dysphagia Care: Implementing Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. Dysphagia. 2021;36(2):161-9.

Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, Ou CQ, He JX, et al. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(18):1708-20.

Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, Cheng Z. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet. 2020;395(10223):497-506.

Li YC, Bai WZ, Hashikawa T. Response to Commentary on "The neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 may play a role in the respiratory failure of COVID-19 patients". J Med Virol. 2020;92(7):707-9.

Logemann JA, Kahrilas PJ, Kobara M, Vakil NB. The benefit of head rotation on pharyngoesophageal dysphagia. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 1989;70(10):767.

Murry T, Carrau R. The abnormal swallow: conditions and diseases. Clinical management of swallowing disorders. San Diego: Plural Publishing. 2006;2:17-32.

Vergara J, Skoretz SA, Brodsky MB, Miles A, Langmore SE, Wallace S, Freitas SV. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of dysphagia in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: A review of the literature and International guidelines. Am J Speech-language Pathol. 2020;29(4):2242-53.

Xydakis MS, Dehgani-Mobaraki P, Holbrook EH, Geisthoff UW, Bauer C, Hautefort C, Herman P, Manley GT, Lyon DM, Hopkins C. Smell and taste dysfunction in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;20(9):1015-6.

Mao L, Jin H, Wang M, Hu Y, Chen S, He Q, et al. Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan. China. JAMA Neurol. 2020;77(6):683-90.

Downloads

Published

2021-09-22

Issue

Section

Case Reports