Rehabilitation medicine: 2. Diagnosis of dysphagia and its nutritional management for stroke patients.

Following stroke, patients may have reduced dietary intake, swallowing impairments (dysphagia) and other neurological deficits that could affect their nutritional and hydration status and lead to aspiration pneumonia. Impaired nutritional status is associated with reduced functional improvement, increased complication rates and prolonged hospital stays. This article is aimed at primary care physicians and others caring for stroke patients. We discuss the need for assessing the nutritional status of stroke patients and provide strategies for the management of dysphagia and patients' food and fluid intakes. In addition, we review clinical and radiological options for the diagnosis of dysphagia as well as oral and enteral feeding alternatives.