Nutritional Approach and Treatment in Patients with Stroke, An Expert Opinion for Turkey

Abstract

Cerebrovascular diseases comprise the most common category of inpatient cases taken care of by neurologists. Dysphagia and malnutrition are not rare after stroke. It is strongly recommended for neurologists to screen and treat swallowing disturbances and malnutrition in stroke patients. However, present scientific literature lacks clear evidence with regards to nutritional treatment strategies for stroke patients. This review and recommendation paper is written with the aim to standardize nutritional screening and treatment algorithms during acute and chronic phases of cerebrovascular diseases and guide neurologists in Turkey for their daily practice.

Turkish Adaptation of Modified Mann Swallowing Ability Test in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Validity and Reliability Study

“…The patient should be referred to the IA performed by the physician or SLT after the initial assessment, which can be performed easily and quickly by the healthcare personnel. 30 The MMASA test was preferred because the screening test should be performed rapidly in addition to a routine evaluation in the hospital setting and should not be invasive. 30 By applying the MMASA screening test, acute stroke patients can be differentiated in terms of dysphagia risk while waiting for comprehensive evaluation.…”

“…30 The MMASA test was preferred because the screening test should be performed rapidly in addition to a routine evaluation in the hospital setting and should not be invasive. 30 By applying the MMASA screening test, acute stroke patients can be differentiated in terms of dysphagia risk while waiting for comprehensive evaluation. In addition, MMASA can be easily added to research to quickly measure the impact of medical therapeutic interventions or drug trials on dysphagia.…”

Is Prognostic Nutritional Index Mortality Predictor in Patients with Acute Stroke in the Intensive Care Unit?

“…In these patients, the prevalence of malnutrition at admission is around 33% [9,14,15]. Malnutrition can cause loss of muscle strength and sarcopenia in critically ill patients [26,27]. The need for invasive mechanical ventilation may increase due to atrophy of the respiratory muscles [27].…”

“…Malnutrition can cause loss of muscle strength and sarcopenia in critically ill patients [26,27]. The need for invasive mechanical ventilation may increase due to atrophy of the respiratory muscles [27]. The length of MV, ICU and hospital stay may be prolonged due to sarcopenia [3,25,26].…”

Effect of Oral Nutritional Supplementation on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…Oral nutritional supplementation is a supplement that contains macronutrients and micronutrients that are widely used by individuals who cannot meet their nutritional needs only through an oral diet. Oral nutritional supplementation may be stated in stroke patients who can consume food orally but cannot meet sufficient quantities to meet nutritional requirements or are in a state of nutritional deficit [4], [5].…”