Aspects of assessment and management for the Acute Physician

The term Dysphagia originates from a Greek word meaning disordered eating. It is defined as difficulty in swallowing. Dysphagia should not be confused with globus senstation, a feeling of having a lump in the throat, which is unrelated to swallowing and occurs without impaired transit (see below). Although odynophagia (painful swallowing) and phagophobia (fear of swallowing) are symptoms that may be associated with dysphagia it is important to distinguish this in the history.