Active clinical trials for "Deglutition Disorders"

The goal of this observational study is to learn about swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) in patients living with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The main questions it aims to answer are: whether the size and structure of the muscles involved in swallowing differ to those without the disease how the size and structure of muscles may associate with swallowing function and swallowing symptoms in this group. Participants will undergo a range of tests including: Ultrasound (US) assessment of the muscles involved in swallowing An x-ray swallowing study (known as videofluoroscopy) Assessment of swallowing symptoms, including questionnaires Assessments of mobility, activity and breathing Assessments of quality of life and wellbeing

Vocal fold immobility (VFI) often results in significant problems with dysphonia, dysphagia, and decreased cough strength. As one element of the dysphagia potentially associated with vocal fold immobility, aspiration may create significant morbidity for these patients. An estimated 38% to 53% of patients with untreated VFI have swallowing difficulties with aspiration. Vocal fold immobility has important implication on the laryngeal airway protection during respiration, phonation and swallowing. It is the most common neurological laryngeal disorder. The immobility may be caused by neck and thoracic surgery. which can impair the innervation of the pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (U.E.S) and proximal esophagus but may also be due to malignancy,trauma, Intracranial causes,or may be idiopathic

The researchers wish to investigate whether proton pump inhibitors, administered prior to or after surgery, can reduce the incidence and/or severity of difficulty swallowing foods and/or liquids,following anterior cervical surgery.

This study will test laryngeal adaptation in speech and swallowing function in healthy adults, in patients with cerebral stroke, and in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. The findings from this proposal will be the first step toward implementing rehabilitation techniques that help patients to prevent speech and swallowing errors before they occur.

This study is for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We want to learn more about how we can optimize pain control in patients who undergo transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Our goal is to determine if a local anesthetic called EXPAREL® (Liposomal Bupivacaine) impacts postsurgical pain and swallow function in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing TORS. EXPAREL® is an FDA-approved anesthetic drug that provides long-lasting and precise pain relief when injected into the surgical wound. Our study team wants to determine if injecting EXPAREL® into the surgical wound will provide better pain relief and swallow function when compared to patients who do not undergo postoperative EXPAREL® injection. Both options for postoperative pain control are considered standard of care for patients undergoing TORS.

The main surgical treatment for oesophageal cancer is a curative resection, mostly performed according to Ivor Lewis. However, despite careful work and refined surgical techniques, anastomotic leakage (AL) occurs in more than 1/10 of the patients. This severe complication normally requires immediate intervention, while over the last 10 years, endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) has become the crucial therapy for broken-down anastomosis. The hypothesis is that despite suffering a severe complication, the subjective swallow function is not impaired in patients treated by EVT after an anastomotic leak, compared to patients without AL.

Effect of a nutritional formula on the nutritional requirements in patients with chewing/swallowing problems during one month

Prospective, open-label, randomized, single-center study evaluating the benefit of a months long monthly telephone follow-up for patients with chronic disorders following the after-effects of anti-cancer treatments after an intensive rehabilitation stay versus standard follow-up.

The purpose of this study is to see if cold liquids improve the swallowing mechanisms in premature infants with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). The only way to objectively diagnose dysphagia is by having that infant undergo a Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS), which allows direct visualization of the liquid bolus (barium) in real time. Infants suspected of having dysphagia and who are referred for a VFSS will be recruited for this study. Once consented, the infant will undergo a standard VFSS. If that infant is diagnosed with dysphagia, the study protocol will begin by keeping the infant the same position and feeding them cold liquid barium from an identical bottle. A total of 5 swallows will be visualized, which adds approximately 5-10 seconds to the study. Both the standard swallows and the study swallows will be recorded for analysis and comparison. It is hypothesized that the study swallows will have less deficits than the standard swallows. If an infant's standard VFSS does not indicate dysphagia, that infant will no longer be eligible for this study.

Inpatients in the neurology rehabilitation units at Riverview Health Center- people who are brain-injured and or who have had a stroke - often have dysphagia as a result of their condition. They are considered at high risk of aspiration, which can result in pneumonia. To limit that risk, these patients are only allowed to consume thickened liquids at the beginning of their rehabilitation. They are restricted from consuming thin liquids, which means they can't even drink water. Depending on the rate of their rehabilitation, these restrictions can last from six months to a year. Patients on a diet of thickened liquids sometimes have difficulty consuming the required daily intake of fluids and they become dehydrated, which in turn can lead to other health complications. As well, thickened liquids do not always satisfy a patient's thirst, says Pooyania. While Riverview does not allow inpatients with dyspagia to have water at the beginning of their rehabilitation, many rehab facilities in Canada and the U.S. follow the "Frazier Free Water Protocol," which does allow patients unrestricted water intake prior to and 30 minutes after meals. The belief that this protocol is safe is based on research done at the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, where a study demonstrated no difference in rates of aspiration pneumonia between an experimental group on a free water protocol and a control group. The Frazer study was only one randomized controlled trial with a very limited number of patients. There have been a few case reports as well, but at Riverview centre, the protocol is not accepted because the investigators don't believe there is enough evidence behind it. The investigators intend to provide more clinical evidence so that both the risks and benefits of a free water protocol can be assessed. The investigators will be screening patients admitted to the neurology rehabilitation units at RCH, including both the stroke and acquired brain injury programs. The investigators expect to find at least 30 suitable candidates. Participants will be educated about dysphagia and the free water protocol, and the treatment group will be allowed unrestricted water intake prior to and 30 minutes after meals. Individualized intervention to minimize aspiration will be provided. Daily and weekly monitoring and testing of all patients will take place. The pilot study will continue for 11 months. A secondary objective of the research is to determine the feasibility of expanding into a multi-centre clinical trial