Thickened liquids: do they still have a place in the paediatric dysphagia toolkit?

xloma.fota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Thickened liquids: do they still have a place in the paediatric dysphagia toolkit? Via Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery - Published Ahead-of-Print Purpose of review Use of thickened fluids has long been a cornerstone of dysphagia management. However, clinicians and researchers are increasingly questioning their effectiveness and highlighting potential harms. This review aims to present the current state of the evidence for use of thickened fluids in children. Recent findings The relationship between aspiration and respiratory infection is complex. The role of thickened fluids in improving respiratory health is limited and contradictory. A high level of variability exists in all aspects of thickened fluid use. Little is known about patient and family perspectives on meaningful endpoints for intervention. Summary Clinicians should be open and transparent in their decision making with patients and families, acknowledging the limited evidence and the need for individualised care. Further research is needed to establish the efficacy of thickened fluid use in children with regard to improvements in respiratory health, fluid intake and child and family wellbeing. Correspondence to Alexandra Stewart, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust; Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK. Tel: +0207 813 8110; e-mail: alex.stewart@gosh.nhs.uk Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.