Risk predictors of post-extubation dysphagia

Abstract

Background: Post-extubation dysphagia is frequent symptom among hospitalized Patients in the critical care unit. It had been discovered that 41% of critically ill patients who require endotracheal intubation experience postextubation dysphagia. Aim: The aim of the current study was to identify risk predictors post-extubation dysphagia. Study design: A descriptive research design was utilized in the current study. Setting: The current study was conducted in the intensive care units (general intensive care unit, traumatic unit and critical care unit) At Assiut university hospital. Subject: A convenience sampling of 100 adult patients. Tools: Tool (1): " Contributing factors for post-extubation assessment, Tool (2): Gugging Swallow Screen bedside swallowing screening. Results: It was found that the greatest percentage of studied patients suffering from moderate dysphagia (60.4 %), with significant statistically difference between some of other risk factors .The other risk factors include duration of intubation, gastric tube size, gastric tube period, and length of stay in the intensive care unit and occurrence of post-extubation dysphasia with P value equal (p value<0.01). Conclusions: There were many variables that could cause postextubation dysphasia. These variables include therapeutic-related variables, duration of end tracheal tube and size of the gastric tube. Additionally, in critically ill patients who have just been extubated, the nurse essential should perform an early detection and management of dysphagia. Recommendation: In order to predict and treat postextubation dysphasia, nurses should periodically check on the critically ill patients who have been intubated for early signs of dysphagia.