Possible treatment options?

[Coffeemonster1]

Our lg has suffered 12 months of hospital admissions from pneumonia. She had a video swallow test which showed a possibility of aspiration, however she is due to have sedation for a bronchoscopy and ct of her lungs to confirm this. If it turns out to definitely be aspiration, what are the treatment options? What do they normally do to prevent this??

[Antidote]

In the first instance they will probably refer to speech and language therapy (salt) to assess which phase of swallow the abnormality is occurring in, and to advise about a modified diet eg thickened fluids, pureed food, positioning for eating and drinking.

They should also be assessing to look for the cause of the aspiration to see if there is anything that should be treated. They might also treat with a prokinetic agent and something to reduce stomach acid.

Hope that helps.

[Coffeemonster1]

She has been seen by salt already who suggested along with the dietician thickened fluids and upright feeding position with slow pace. Then referred her for the video fluoroscopy which when reviewed, showed the signs of aspiration. The consultant said he wants a bronchoscopy next and sample taken from her lungs. So is stomach acid reducing a way to resolve aspiration? What's a pro kinetic agent? Thankyou for your reply.

[Antidote]

Reducing stomach acid won't stop aspiration, but should help to make the damage done by aspirations to the lungs less.

A pro-kinetic agent should help speed up stomach emptying so the food had less opportunity to be aspirated (this assumes that the problem is at least on part due to reflux).