Prevention of Aspiration Pneumonia: Oral Care and Free Water

Course overview

Dehydration is a serious condition affecting many patients with dysphagia. Use of thickened liquids only to maintain proper hydration is often inadequate. However, the decision to give free water to dysphagic patients remains controversial, causing many clinicians to be reluctant to offer free water. Just how risky is free water? What is the correlation between free water and aspiration pneumonia? What are the risk factors to monitor when providing free water? This dynamic e-course will provide answers to these questions by examining the pulmonary literature for effects of water in the lungs. Aspiration pneumonia myths and facts will be addressed. The critical role of oral hygiene will be discussed. The specifics of the Free Water Protocol will be covered in great detail including assessment of which patients can and cannot be managed safely on free water. The presenter's hospital, Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville, KY, has successfully managed free water with thousands of dysphagic patients since 1984. What she has learned about aspiration pneumonia, thickened liquids and dehydration will be shared. Participants will gain a new perspective on free water and the knowledge to implement effectively oral hygiene, hydration, and free water protocols in their facilities.