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Information for Healthcare Professional Use OnlyIn this episode of the Inside Medical Nutrition podcast, Dr. Linia Patel interviews Smruthi Venkat, a speech and language therapist (SLT) specialising in stroke rehabilitation. They delve into the complexities of dysphagia, swallowing difficulties commonly experienced by stroke patients.Smruthi explains that stroke patients present with varying swallowing impairments depending on the location of the stroke. These can include oral motor weakness, sensory deficits affecting the ability to distinguish food temperatures or detect residue, and impaired coordination of the four-stage swallowing process.The conversation highlights the importance of early swallow screening for stroke patients upon hospital admission. If difficulties are detected, a specialist assessment by a speech and language therapist is crucial. This bedside swallowing assessment involves a detailed case history, cranial nerve and oral motor examination, and observation of the patient consuming different food and fluid textures.Smruthi emphasises the role of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework in determining safe food and fluid textures. If a patient is deemed unsafe or silent aspiration is suspected, further instrumental assessments like video fluoroscopy or endoscopy are recommended.The podcast also explores the Eating, Drinking, and Swallowing Competencies Framework developed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). These competencies provide standards for knowledge, skills, and understanding for professionals supporting individuals with eating and drinking difficulties. Smruthi shares how these competencies have informed training programs and improved the quality of care for dysphagia patients.Finally, the discussion covers stroke rehabilitation guidelines, emphasising the potential for patients to benefit from rehabilitation at any point after their stroke. Smruthi outlines various rehabilitation options, including texture modification, behavioural  therapy, and exploratory muscle strength training. She underscores the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach involving physicians, nurses, therapists, dietitians, and psychologists to support the patient's recovery journey. Smruthi highlights the importance of oral hygiene for stroke patients, following SLT recommendations, and stroke rehabilitation.Listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about dysphagia and how dysphagia is managed in stroke rehabilitation patients. 

In this podcast Timira Naicker walks us through her journey as a dietitian and how she made the transition into the field of regulatory. Timira gives us great insights about her regulatory dietitian role, what are her interests, what does a typical day looks like and how you can think about a career in regulatory. Disclaimer: BDA endorsement applies only to the educational content of the learning activity.Information for Healthcare Professional Use Only

In this podcast Dr Graeme O’Connor discusses his role as a research dietitian and how he made his first research move in the field of refeeding syndrome. After the success of developing clinical guidelines for the management of refeeding syndrome, Graeme went onto to research tube feeding formula containing food derived ingredients at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Graeme also highlights how dietitians can work with industry to test important questions such as 'how can a blended diet work in a hospital setting?'  Disclaimer: BDA endorsement applies only to the educational content of the learning activity.Information for Healthcare Professional Use Only