UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

A multicentre evaluation of oropharyngeal secretion management practices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mcgeachan, AJ; Hobson, EV; Al-Chalabi, A; Stephenson, J; Chandran, S; Crawley, F; Dick, D; ... Mcdermott, CJ; + view all (2017) A multicentre evaluation of oropharyngeal secretion management practices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration , 18 (1-2) pp. 1-9. 10.1080/21678421.2016.1221433. Green open access

[thumbnail of Orrell_A multicenter evaluation of oropharyngeal secretion management practices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.pdf]
Preview
Text
Orrell_A multicenter evaluation of oropharyngeal secretion management practices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (108kB) | Preview

Abstract

Failure to clear oral secretions can be debilitating for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the treatment of this symptom is poorly defined and there is no consensus on best practice. The objective of this study was to identify the treatments that are commonly prescribed, and to describe how experienced clinicians manage a patient with treatment resistant symptoms. Twenty-three clinicians were approached, of which 19 from 16 centres across the UK provided case report forms for a total of 119 ALS patients identified as having problematic oral secretions. The use of five anticholinergics, salivary gland botulinum toxin injections, conservative management approaches and carbocisteine were reported. Of the 72 patients who were evaluated following the initiation of a first anticholinergic, 61% had symptomatic improvement. Only 19% of patients achieved symptomatic improvement with the use of an alternative anticholinergic when an initial anticholinergic achieved no symptomatic improvement. Problems with thick and thin secretions often coexisted, with 37% of patients receiving treatment for both types of problem. In conclusion, a variety of treatment options are employed by expert clinicians for problematic oral secretions in ALS patients. The variation in management highlights the need for further prospective research in this area.

Type: Article
Title: A multicentre evaluation of oropharyngeal secretion management practices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2016.1221433
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2016.1221433
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences & Neurology, Secretion management, sialorrhoea, anticholinergics, botulinum toxin, MOTOR-NEURON DISEASE, BOTULINUM TOXIN, SIALORRHEA, RADIOTHERAPY
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1514852
Downloads since deposit
219Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item