Cardiac Disease, Surgical Intervention, and Dysphagia Correlations

Course overview

Speech pathologists and acute care rehab clinicians are faced with growing caseloads of patients with cardiac disorders and the sequelae of disease progression. We are asked to see patients in the intensive care or cardiopulmonary unit with acute or chronic cardiac disease. In this course, participants will learn about cardiac anatomy/physiology, diseases, and how these issues can interfere with everyday living, including mobility and eating and drinking safely. Patients face decisions on how to treat their diseases, first empirically and then with possible surgical interventions. Cardiac catheter interventions and surgical interventions will be discussed. Current research regarding why patients may experience post-op swallowing disorders will be covered, as well as how to implement a pre- and post-op swallow screen in your institution. This course will increase your critical thinking skills for assessing and treating patients with adult cardiac disorders.