IntroductionDysphagia is common among survivors of critical illness who required mechanical ventilation during treatment. The risk factors associated with the development of postextubation dysphagia, and the effects of dysphagia on patient outcomes, have been relatively unexplored.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study from 2008 to 2010 of all patients over 17 years of age admitted to a university hospital ICU who required mechanical ventilation and subsequently received a bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) by a speech pathologist.ResultsA BSE was performed after mechanical ventilation in 25% (630 of 2,484) of all patients. After we excluded patients with stroke and/or neuromuscular disease, our study sample size was 446 patients. We found that dysphagia was present in 84% of patients (n = 374) and classified dysphagia as absent, mild, moderate or severe in 16% (n = 72), 44% (n = 195), 23% (n = 103) and 17% (n = 76), respectively. In univariate analyses, we found that statistically significant risk factors for severe dysphagia included long duration of mechanical ventilation and reintubation. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, gender and severity of illness, we found that mechanical ventilation for more than seven days remained independently associated with moderate or severe dysphagia (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.84 [interquartile range (IQR) = 1.78 to 4.56]; P < 0.01). The presence of severe postextubation dysphagia was significantly associated with poor patient outcomes, including pneumonia, reintubation, in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, discharge status and surgical placement of feeding tubes. In multivariate analysis, we found that the presence of moderate or severe dysphagia was independently associated with the composite outcome of pneumonia, reintubation and death (AOR = 3.31 [IQR = 1.89 to 5.90]; P < 0.01).ConclusionsIn a large cohort of critically ill patients, long duration of mechanical ventilation was independently associated with postextubation dysphagia, and the development of postextubation dysphagia was independently associated with poor patient outcomes.

Swallowing disorders are costly and clinically important in a large population of ICU patients. The development of effective screening strategies and national diagnostic standards will enable further studies aimed at understanding the precise mechanisms for these disorders. Further research should also concentrate on identifying modifiable risk factors and developing novel treatments aimed at reducing the significant burden of swallowing dysfunction in critical illness survivors.

Purpose This study sought to determine the utilization of speech-language pathologist (SLPs) for the diagnosis and treatment of post-extubation dysphagia in survivors of mechanical ventilation. Methods We designed, validated, and mailed a survey to 1,966 inpatient SLPs who routinely evaluate patients for post-extubation dysphagia. Results The majority of SLP diagnostic evaluations (60%; 95% CI = 59–62%) were performed using clinical techniques with uncertain accuracy. Instrumental diagnostic tests (such as fluoroscopy and endoscopy) are more likely to be available at university than community hospitals. After adjusting for hospital size and academic affiliation, instrumental test use varied significantly by geographical region. Treatments for post-extubation dysphagia usually involved dietary adjustment (76%; 95% CI = 73–79%) and postural changes/compensatory maneuvers (86%; 95% CI = 84–88%), rather than on interventions aimed to improve swallowing function (24%; 95% CI = 21–27%). Conclusions SLPs frequently evaluate acute respiratory failure survivors. However, diagnostic evaluations rely mainly upon bedside techniques with uncertain accuracy. The use of instrumental tests varies by geographic location and university affiliation. Current diagnostic practices and feeding decisions for critically ill patients should be viewed with caution until further studies determine the accuracy of bedside detection methods.

IntroductionCritically ill patients can develop acute respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation. Swallowing dysfunction after liberation from mechanical ventilation, also known as post-extubation dysphagia, is common and deleterious among patients without neurologic disease. However, the risk factors associated with the development of post-extubation dysphagia and its effect on hospital lengthofstay in critically ill patients with neurologic disorders remains relatively unexplored.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study from 2008 to 2010 of patients with neurologic impairment who required mechanical ventilation and subsequently received a bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) by a speech-language pathologist.ResultsA BSE was performed after mechanical ventilation in 25% (630/2,484) of all patients. In the 184 patients with neurologic impairment, post-extubation dysphagia was present in 93% (171/184), and was classified as mild, moderate, or severe in 34% (62/184), 26% (48/184), and 33% (61/184), respectively. In univariate analyses, statistically significant risk factors for moderate/severe dysphagia included longer durations of mechanical ventilation and the presence of a tracheostomy. In multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, tracheostomy, cerebrovascular disease, and severity of illness, mechanical ventilation for >7 days remained independently associated with moderate/severe dysphagia (adjusted odds ratio = 4.48 (95%confidence interval = 2.14 to 9.81), P<0.01). The presence of moderate/severe dysphagia was also significantly associated with prolonged hospital lengthofstay, discharge status, and surgical placement of feeding tubes. When adjusting for age, severity of illness, and tracheostomy, patients with moderate/severe dysphagia stayed in the hospital 4.32 days longer after their initial BSE than patients with none/mild dysphagia (95% confidence interval = 3.04 to 5.60 days, P <0.01).ConclusionIn a cohort of critically ill patients with neurologic impairment, longer duration of mechanical ventilation is independently associated with post-extubation dysphagia, and the development of post-extubation dysphagia is independently associated with a longer hospital length of stay after the initial BSE.

Background Dysphagia with subsequent aspiration occurs in up to 60% of acute respiratory failure (ARF) survivors. Accurate bedside tests for aspiration can reduce aspiration-related complications while minimizing delay of oral nutrition. In a cohort of ARF survivors, we determined the accuracy of the bedside swallowing evaluation (BSE) and its components for detecting aspiration. Methods Patients who were extubated after ≥24 hours of mechanical ventilation were eligible for enrollment. Within three days of extubation, patients underwent comprehensive BSE including 3-ounce water swallowing test (3-WST), followed by a gold standard test for aspiration, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Results 45 patients were included in the analysis. Median patient age was 55 years (IQR=47- 65). Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 3.3 days (IQR 1.8–6.0). 14 patients (31%) aspirated on FEES. Physical exam findings on BSE and abnormal swallowing during trials of different consistencies were variably associated with aspiration. Compared to FEES, the 3-WST yielded a sensitivity of 77% (95%CI=50–92%), specificity of 65% (95%CI=47–79%), and AUC=0.71; an SLP’s recommendation for altered diet yielded a sensitivity of 86% (95%CI=60– 96%), specificity of 52% (95%CI=35–68%), and AUC=0.69; an SLP’s recommendation for NPO yielded a sensitivity of 50% (95%CI=27–73%), specificity of 94% (95%CI=79–98%), and AUC=0.72. Conclusions The BSE and its components, including the 3-WST, demonstrated variable accuracy for aspiration in survivors of ARF. Investigation to determine the optimal non-invasive test for aspiration in ARF survivors is warranted. Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02363686, Aspiration in Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors