Evaluation of Swallow Function Post-Extubation: Is It Necessary to Wait 24 Hours?.

BACKGROUND: Post-extubation dysphagia is associated with an increased incidence of nosocomial pneumonias, longer hospitalizations, and higher re-intubation rates. The purpose of this study was to determine if it is necessary to delay swallow evaluation for 24 hours post-extubation., METHODS: A prospective investigation of swallowing was conducted at 1, 4, and 24 hours post-extubation to determine if it is necessary to delay swallow evaluation following intubation. Participants were 202 adults from 5 different intensive care units (ICU)., RESULTS: A total of 166 of 202 (82.2%) passed the Yale Swallow Protocol at 1 hour post-extubation, with an additional 11 (177/202; 87.6%) at 4 hours, and 8 more (185/202; 91.6%) at 24 hours. Only intubation duration >=4 days was significantly associated with nonfunctional swallowing., CONCLUSIONS: We found it is not necessary to delay assessment of swallowing in individuals who are post-extubation. Specifically, the majority of patients in our study (82.2%) passed a swallow screening at 1 hour post-extubation.

24 citations (Crossref) [2023-10-31] Place: United States Leder, Steven B. 1 Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Warner, Heather L. 2 Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA. Suiter, Debra M. 3 University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Young, Nwanmegha O. 1 Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Bhattacharya, Bishwajit. 4 Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Siner, Jonathan M. 5 Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Davis, Kimberly A. 4 Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Maerz, Linda L. 4 Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Rosenbaum, Stanley H. 6 Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Marshall, Peter S. 5 Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Pisani, Margaret A. 7 Department of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Siegel, Mark D. 5 Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Brennan, Joseph J. 8 Department of Cardiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Schuster, Kevin M. 4 Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.