Swallowing, nutrition, and hydration during acute stroke care.

Dysphagia occurs in up to half of patients after an acute stroke and may cause dehydration, undernutrition, and aspiration pneumonia. Current evidence suggests that a systematic program of diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia in an acute stroke management plan may yield dramatic reductions in aspiration pneumonia rates. There is also some evidence thatnutritional supplementation and proper hydration may reduce morbidity and mortality in acute stroke patients. This article focuses on the recent advances in the evaluation and management of dysphagia, undernutrition, and dehydration related toacute stroke. A summary of pertinent studies in the area of stroke dysphagia and nutrition is also included. FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PUBMED