Purpose: This study provided preliminary data on the occurrence and impact of postextubation dysphagia in the largest Greek step-down intensive care unit (ICU) over 2 years.
Method: A retrospective observational cohort study of patients referred for swallowing assessment postextubation was conducted from November, 2011, to August, 2013.
Results: Of the 357 patients admitted to the unit during this period, 87, aged 55.8 ± 18.1 years (61 male, 26 female), were referred and evaluated. Of these, 2.3% were found to have no dysphagia, and 21.8% and 75.9% were diagnosed with mild and moderate/severe dysphagia, respectively. Across severity levels, 23% of patients in the unit were found to have dysphagia. Patients with moderate/severe dysphagia were more likely to have had prolonged intubation (> 48 hr; p = .02) and exhibit signs of aspiration (p = .002) than those with no or mild dysphagia. Prolonged intubation was associated with increased likelihood of moderate/severe dysphagia by a factor of 12 (p = .042, odds ratio = 12.355) compared to short intubation. Moderate/severe dysphagia was correlated with pneumonia (p = .02), feeding tube placement (p = .004) and in-hospital mortality (p = .034).
Conclusion: In this sample, moderate/severe dysphagia was correlated with prolonged intubation, and was found to increase the risk for pneumonia and in-hospital mortality. Our results suggest the importance of early dysphagia management in critical patients in Greece and globally.