Dysphagia has now become a common disease in Japan, and the presence of otolaryngologists is more significant in the dysphagia clinics. Impaired swallowing function can easily cause suffocation and aspiration pneumonia which can be induced by food, saliva and stomach acid. Patients with dementia could have a suffocation by filling up food in their mouth. Although the aspiration pneumonia in elderly patients is difficult to avoid, an oral diet can often be continued with appropriate treatment.
Multidisciplinary team approach is necessary in the field of swallowing medicine, however the otolaryngologist can play a leading role in the team evaluating the swallowing function and treating the dysphagia and pneumonia.
