We experienced a malnourished 62-year-old male patient with Wallenberg syndrome whose swallowing-related muscle mass was shown to improve on ultrasound following aggressive nutritional therapy used to improve malnutrition. Dysphagia improved from no oral intake at admission to regular oral intake at discharge by aggressive rehabilitation nutrition. Rate increases in body weight, skeletal muscle index, and coronal cross-section of geniohyoid muscle area assessed by ultrasound during the 131 days of hospitalization were 15%, 21%, and 33%, respectively. Aggressive nutritional therapy, aimed at improving malnutrition, can improve swallowing-related muscle mass. Ultrasonography of the swallowing-related muscles over time is useful in assessing dysphagia.
Keywords: dysphagia; nutrition; rehabilitation; sarcopenia; stroke.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of General and Family Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Primary Care Association.