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The Dysphagia in Stroke Protocol Reduces Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia Following Acute Stroke: a Clinical Audit

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Abstract

Cough reflex testing has been evaluated as a component of the clinical swallowing assessment as a means of identifying patients at risk of aspiration during swallowing. A previous study by our research group found good sensitivity and specificity of the cough reflex test for identifying patients at risk of aspiration post-stroke, yet its use did not decrease pneumonia rates, contrary to previous reports. The aim of this study was to expand on our earlier work by implementing a clinical management protocol incorporating cough reflex testing within the same healthcare setting and compare patient outcomes to those from the original study and to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with acute stroke who were managed using the Dysphagia in Stroke Protocol (DiSP). Secondarily, to compare those outcomes to historical data prior to implementation of the DiSP. This clinical audit measured outcomes from 284 patients with acute stroke managed per the DiSP, which guides use of videofluoroscopic swallowing study and patient management based on clinical exam with cough reflex testing. Data from our previous trial were included for comparison of pre- and post-DiSP patient outcomes. Data collection took place between November 2012 and April 2016 at four urban hospitals within New Zealand. Following implementation of the DiSP, the rate of aspiration pneumonia (10%) was substantially lower than the pre-DiSP rate (28%), with no pneumonia readmissions within 3 months. Pneumonia-related mortality was unchanged. By 3 months, 81% of the patients were on a normal diet and 67% had returned home, compared to pre-DiSP outcomes of 55% and 55% respectively. Previous work has suggested that simply implementing cough reflex testing in dysphagia management may not be sufficient to improve patient outcomes. The present study adds to this picture by suggesting that the true variable of influence may be the way in which the results of the test are applied to patient care. There is a strong case to support the use of a structured protocol if cough reflex testing is to be implemented in clinical practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Disorders, The University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Sarah E. Perry & Maggie-Lee Huckabee

  2. Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Sarah E. Perry

  3. Department of Speech Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Anna Miles

  4. Department of Neurology, Christchurch Public Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand

    John N. Fink

Authors
  1. Sarah E. Perry
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  2. Anna Miles
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  3. John N. Fink
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  4. Maggie-Lee Huckabee
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Correspondence to Sarah E. Perry.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Perry, S.E., Miles, A., Fink, J.N. et al. The Dysphagia in Stroke Protocol Reduces Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Dysphagia Following Acute Stroke: a Clinical Audit. Transl. Stroke Res. 10, 36–43 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-018-0625-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-018-0625-z

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