Rehabilitation of Swallowing and Voice in Medial Medullary Infarct – A Case Study

Divya Sivagnanapandian; Sangeetha Ganesan

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

Rehabilitation of Swallowing and Voice in Medial Medullary Infarct – A Case Study

Divya Sivagnanapandian, Sangeetha Ganesan

Abstract :

Cereal infarction leads to necrosis as a result of occlusion in cereal artery. Based on the lesion site, infract is classified as i) Total Anterior, ii) Partial Anterior Circulation Infarcts, iii) Lacunar Infarcts, iv) Lateral and v) Medial Medullary Infarct. Among the types, Lacunar and Lateral Medullary Infarcts are the common causes for speech and swallowing problems. Medial Medullary Infarct (MMI) is a rare syndrome which causes speech and swallowing problem in less than 1% of the clinical population. Major characteristics of Medial Medullary Infarct include 1) Ipsilateral Hypoglossal nerve palsy (deviation toward the side of the lesion) 2) Contralateral Hemiparesis and 3) Lemniscal sensory loss (proprioception and position sense). The major symptom of patients with MMI exhibit respiratory distress for whichtracheostomy tube would be inserted in order to protect the airway and supports for prolonged ventilation. This case study mainly focuses on a patient who has MMI and fitted with Tracheostomy tube. The client presented with Speech and swallowing difficulty. Management of Swallowing, Voice and the prognosis were documented.