Bone & Joint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postintubation dysphagia management in COVID-19 patients and elderly people using a novel nutrient supplement

 

Wen-Fu Thomas Lai

Dysphagiais a life-threatening disorder caused by many medical conditions such as stroke, neurological disorders, tumors, and aging etc.  Presently, the risks of dysphagia associated with COVID-19 are noted in the clinics, especially for the postintubation. The COVID-19 patients are at high risk when swallowing deficits, because of the respiratory symptoms and the reduced lung function. These findings include oropharyngeal trauma, neuromuscular fatigue, reduced laryngeal sensitivity, lack ofsensorium, and impaired synchronization of breathing and swallowing. To repair the difficulty in swallowing and the continuous loss of bone tissue at the same time, we have designed a new nutrient supplement containing a swallowing stimulator, Capsicum annuum. The Capsicum annuumwas reported as an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), which promoting substance P. The substance P is released from the nerve endings to increase the swallowing reflex. This novel nutrient supplement will aid the swallowing rehabilitation and the repair of the bone loss for COVID-19 patients and the elderly people. 

 

Key words: Capsicum annuum, COVID-19, Dysphagia, Rehabilitation, Substance P, Swallowing.