Video nasopharyngoscope helps tackle silent aspiration
A new piece of equipment based at Noble's Hospital is making a 'massive difference' for patients who have trouble swallowing.
The video nasopharyngoscope allows healthcare professionals to see and record action in real time to identify issues.
It helps tackle silent aspiration in patients who may be recovering from events like a stroke or have illnesses like motor neurone disease.
Silent aspiration is when you accidentally inhale food, liquid or other material into your trachea (windpipe or airway).
Duncan Brown is the Clinical Lead of the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service and told Manx Radio swallowing is something we often take for granted:
The device was donated to the service by the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust, which has been supporting the provision of healthcare on the Isle of Man for more than 130 years.
Malcolm Clague from the trust says the equipment is 'mind-blowing':
And you can hear more from Duncan and Malcolm in our latest Newcast: