This assessment is done on ICU by the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). It involves placing a small camera through the patient’s nose to the back of the throat.
Patients are awake for the assessment and no anaesthetic is usually required. Patients usually cope well with the procedure.
Once the camera is in position, the SLT will assess how the structures in the throat are moving, how well the patient is swallowing their saliva and finally look at how the patient swallows food & drink. We often add some food colouring to the food & drink so we can see it more clearly in the throat.
Claire Mills
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