Definitions
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphagia
Characteristic feature of the final phase of dementia
Dysphagia
Frequent complication of difficulty swallowing
Aspiration Pneumonia
Reflux esophagitis
Proton Pump Inhibitor
Metabolic, cytokine and neuroendocrine-mediated cascade of events leading to a loss of appetite for food
Anorexia
Specialist with expertise in feeding & swallowing, cognition and communication
Speech-language pathologist
Cause of difficulty swallowing solids with progression to difficulty swallowing liquids
Obstructing lesion
Early satiety and nausea
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Disease-related muscle loss
Cachexia
Increases appetite and body weight for patients with HIV and cancer
Megestrol acetate (Megace)
This syndrome is associated with worse patient-related outcomes when compared to patients with cancer who do not have this complication of appetite loss
Cancer cachexia
Dysgeusia
Zinc
Age-related muscle loss
Sarcopenia
Medication for appetite loss that is most beneficial during the final weeks of life
Corticosteroids
Cause of appetite loss in patients taking anti-cholinergic medications
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Dry mouth caused by radiation
Pilocarpine
Weight loss <5% in 6 months
Pre-cachexia
Appetite stimulant with the strongest data supporting its ability to improve weight gain
Olanzapine
Neurologic cause of trouble swallowing where a feeding tube may be beneficial earlier in the course of treatment
ALS
Interventions to reduce aspiration pneumonia in patients receiving tube feeds
Absolutely nothing