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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Feb;51(1):173-83.
doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2008/013).

A randomized study of three interventions for aspiration of thin liquids in patients with dementia or Parkinson's disease

Jeri A Logemann  1 , Gary Gensler, Joanne Robbins, Anne S Lindblad, Diane Brandt, Jacqueline A Hind, Steven Kosek, Karen Dikeman, Marta Kazandjian, Gary D Gramigna, Donna Lundy, Susan McGarvey-Toler, Patricia J Miller Gardner
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized study of three interventions for aspiration of thin liquids in patients with dementia or Parkinson's disease

Jeri A Logemann et al. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2008 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to identify which of 3 treatments for aspiration on thin liquids-chin-down posture, nectar-thickened liquids, or honey-thickened liquids-results in the most successful immediate elimination of aspiration on thin liquids during the videofluorographic swallow study in patients with dementia and/or Parkinson's disease.

Method: This randomized clinical trial included 711 patients ages 50 to 95 years who aspirated on thin liquids as assessed videofluorographically. All patients received all 3 interventions in a randomly assigned order during the videofluorographic swallow study.

Results: Immediate elimination of aspiration on thin liquids occurred most often with honey-thickened liquids for patients in each diagnostic category, followed by nectar-thickened liquids and chin-down posture. Patients with most severe dementia exhibited least effectiveness on all interventions. Patient preference was best for chin-down posture followed closely by nectar-thickened liquids.

Conclusion: To identify best short-term intervention to prevent aspiration of thin liquid in patients with dementia and/or Parkinson's disease, a videofluorographic swallow assessment is needed. Evidence-based practice requires taking patient preference into account when designing a dysphagic patient's management plan. The longer-term impact of short-term prevention of aspiration requires further study.

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