We evaluated the medication-swallowing dynamics in an elderly patient with impaired swallowing using video-endoscopic evaluation. The female patient in her 80s was hospitalized for decreased activities of daily living (ADL) associated with dehydration and dysphagia. The patient had been taking 14 types of medicines for internal use in combination with a commercially-available soft wafer and deglutition aid jelly. When one tablet wrapped in deglutition aid jelly was taken orally, the tablet that got separated from the deglutition aid jelly entered the larynx and the aspirated tablet was expectorated. If the jelly and the tablet separate when passing through the pharynx due to the low adhesiveness and low viscosity of the deglutition aid jelly, it is necessary to examine the medication administration method according to the ability of each patient to swallow. An alternative method is using thickeners that have higher adhesiveness and viscosity than deglutition aid jelly. However, thickeners do not satisfy the needs of all patients in terms of tactile sensation and taste. We are expecting the development of thickeners that can meet these requirements.
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