Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2021 , Vol 67 , Num 3

Dysphagia management during COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the literature and international guidelines

Sibel Eyigör 1 ,Ebru Umay 2
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5606/tftrd.2021.8427 In this review, we present the safest and most effective diagnosis and treatment approaches to dysphagia during the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the light of available data, relevant literature, and personal experiences. Evaluations for dysphagia patients should be based on clinical assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic and instrumental assessment should be planned for very few number of patients. The main approach to rehabilitation must depend on compensatory methods, texture-modified foods, and postural strategies. Direct treatment methods should be avoided and home-based exercise programs should be encouraged. It is also obvious that there is a need for the development of new strategies for telemedicine/telerehabilitation practices in the new world order. Keywords : COVID-19, dysphagia, management, swallowing, treatment