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Title: The Dysphagia Dysphonia Modernized Care Pathway: Can clinical outcomes inform future trends?


Authors: Gerard1, Hanevy, Mulcahy, Murphy, Ruth1, Sile1, Teresa1; Thong
Publication: Journal of The Irish Head and Neck Society - 2025
Issue: 3 Volume: 3
Published: February, 2025 View PDF

Background:
The modernised care dysphonia/ dysphagia pathway is a scheduled care reform initiative that seeks to implement, operationalise and optimise clinically redesigned patient pathways. These pathways aim to transition care from the acute hospitals, thereby freeing up acute hospital consultant capacity to treat higher acuity patients.

Aims & Objectives:
• To review the outcomes of SLT led clinic
o Cancer detection rate
• To inform and guide future management of referrals

Methodology:
Data was collected prospectively via excel document over a 12month period. Primary and secondary diagnoses were collated. All images were reviewed jointly with a clinical specialist speech and language therapist and Otolaryngologist and inter-rater reliability agreed.

Results:
Primary and secondary outcomes were collated for a total of 216 patients. Laryngopharngoreflux (LPR) and pharyngeal hypersensitivity n=97, 45% was the highest diagnostic outcome. Muscle tension dysphonia accounted for n=60, 28%. 20% of patients (n=43) presented with both LPR and muscle tension. Benign lesions accounted for n=6, 3%, Cancer detection rate for 2024 was 0%.

Conclusion: The review highlighted that muscle tension dysphonia and LPR were the primary diagnostic outcomes for those attending the SLT led clinic. This patient group each received a therapy session as part of their consultation thus representing a better patient experience and healthcare savings in comparison to ENT clinics alone.

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