BACKGROUND:
Dysphagia and aspiration occur frequently in stroke patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate 2 consistencies (liquid and spoon-thick/pudding-like) regarding the risk of aspiration and to determine the usefulness of a bedside speech therapy assessment to predict risk of aspiration.
METHODS:
This randomized, crossover clinical trial was carried out April to August 2001 at a university hospital. Sixty-one inpatients diagnosed with acute phase or prior stroke received liquid and spoon-thick (pudding-like) feeds during nasoendoscopy and bedside clinical assessment.
RESULTS:
Aspiration occurred in only 3 patients with the spoon-thick consistency vs 21 with the liquid consistency (relative risk=0.13; 95% confidence interval=0.04-0.39; P