Outpatient Perspective: Lung Transplant & Dysphagia with Carolyn Abraham, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLT

A lung transplant has become a frequent treatment option for patients with a variety of end-stage lung diseases. These patients have to be put through rigorous steps in order to deem themselves worthy of receiving this gift. After the transplant, there are potential complications that Speech Pathologists find themselves addressing. Knowledge base of lung disease and its impact on the swallowing, and breathing, creates a foundation for patients and their success. The lung transplant research highlights the underlying risks of an acute rejection and other injuries to the newly transplanted lung. Much of the research is related to esophageal phase dysphagia versus oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. The limited data on oropharyngeal dysphagia indicates that there is a dysphagia component which impact patient’s quality of life and well-being. The research also supports the use of Speech Pathology interventions to mitigate the aspiration risk.

Show notes available at: https://www.speechuncensored.com/podcastepisodes/s3e41

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