[Dysphagia] Clear fluids

[sharon.manders at gmail.com (Sharon Manders)]

I just had a discussion with one of the dietitians that I work with. She
asked why we order clear fluids for a patient. In our facility, there is the
surgical 'clear fluids' which includes Ensure (apparently it doesn't have
lactose, so it's 'clear'), and the 'speech' clear fluids which is water,
black tea and/or coffee and apple juice and ginger ale. I was told once that
clear fluids is more of a transition to regular liquids. The justification
was that the lack of sugar (!) and milk products would reduce the chance of
bacteria forming in the lungs if those liquids were aspirated. Once the SLP
was comfortable that the patient was managing the clear fluids well for a
while, they then get upgraded to regular liquids.

I haven't ordered clear fluids for some time because I don't really think it
is necessary, either they can drink or they can't, and all my patients get
water (except temporarily for a patient with a brand new stroke who is
having +++ trouble).

What do other people do out there? I'd like to get a sense of how common
this is. Do you even have a 'clear fluid' or 'thin, clear liquid' option? Is
it justified or is it a waste of time? We'd be very interested in the
responses.

Thanks in advance,

Sharon

-- 
"Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of
time."
- George Carlin