Dysphagia

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• History of foreign body ingestion, especially children
• History of Gastro-oesophageal reflux or Oesophageal motility disorder, Scleroderma, Neoplasm or Thyroid enlargement

Tests

• Soft tissue studies of the neck including lateral XR
• Chest x-ray
• Barium swallow
• Thyroid studies if appropriate

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Hypo-pharyngeal or upper oesophageal foreign body suspected (mid-lower oesophageal lesions and foreign bodies normally referred to Gastroenterology) - refer immediately to Emergency Department

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 Dysphagia with hoarseness - Cat 1

🚩 Progressive dysphagia or persistent dysphagia for three weeks Cat 1

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.