Is the Electrical Threshold of Sensation on the Soft Palate Indicative of the Recovery Process of the Swallowing Reflex Based on Functional Assessment?

Surgical Treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

10.5772/intechopen.96560 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nguyen Pham ◽

Isabella Rodoni

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Soft Palate ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ◽

Patient Assessment ◽

Pharyngeal Flap ◽

Sphincter Pharyngoplasty ◽

Nasal Emission ◽

Nasal Regurgitation

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a condition where the soft palate and posterior oropharynx fail to close adequately, leading to complications such as abnormal speech, nasal regurgitation and nasal emission. Although there exist many approaches to treating VPI depending on the shape and severity of the insufficiency, this chapter describes the three most frequently used and well-researched techniques: the Furlow Palatoplasty (double-opposing Z-palatoplasty), the creation and placement of a pharyngeal flap, and a sphincter pharyngoplasty. This chapter contains an introduction to VPI causes and treatment, a description of patient assessment methods, step-by-step instructions for the different operative procedures, and the recovery process.

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Servicing the Senior Swallow: A Family-Centered Private Practice Model of Service Delivery

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00134 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yvette M. McCoy

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Medical Model ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Swallowing Disorders ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Care Needs ◽

Skilled Nursing ◽

Person Centered Care ◽

Centered Care ◽

Traditional Medical Model

Purpose Person-centered care shifts the focus of treatment away from the traditional medical model and moves toward personal choice and autonomy for people receiving health services. Older adults remain a priority for person-centered care because they are more likely to have complex care needs than younger individuals. Even more specifically, the assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders are often thought of in terms of setting-specific (i.e., acute care, skilled nursing, home health, etc.), but the management of dysphagia in older adults should be considered as a continuum of care from the intensive care unit to the outpatient multidisciplinary clinic. In order to establish a framework for the management of swallowing in older adults, clinicians must work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team using current evidence to guide clinical practice. Private practitioners must think critically not only about the interplay between the components of the evidence-based practice treatment triad but also about the broader impact of dysphagia on caregivers and families. The physical health and quality of life of both the caregiver and the person receiving care are interdependent. Conclusion Effective treatment includes consideration of not only the patient but also others, as caregivers play an important role in the recovery process of the patient with swallowing disorders.

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