A teenager with CVA and dysphagia is admitted to the hospital. What is the immediate action for the dietitian?

Requesting a swallow test is the immediate action for the dietitian in the case of a teenager with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and dysphagia. This is essential because dysphagia can pose significant risks, such as aspiration and choking, making it critical to assess the patient's swallowing capabilities as soon as possible.

By conducting a swallow test, healthcare providers can determine the safest consistencies of food and liquids the patient can handle and whether any interventions are necessary to manage their feeding effectively. It establishes a baseline for safe swallowing and informs any necessary dietary modifications or interventions that should follow.

While consulting with a speech therapist is an important part of managing dysphagia, the request for a swallow test is typically the first step in that collaboration. Likewise, while initiating enteral feeding or ordering a texture-modified diet might be necessary based on the results of the swallow test, these actions should occur only after an assessment is performed to understand the patient’s specific swallowing capabilities.