Association between timing of speech and language therapy initiation and outcomes among post-extubation dysphagia patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Using augmented intelligence to improve long term outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

For augmented intelligence (AI) tools to realize their potential, critical care clinicians must ensure they are designed to improve long-term outcomes. This overview is intended to align professionals with the state-of-the art of AI.

RECENT FINDINGS

Many AI tools are undergoing preliminary assessment of their ability to support the care of survivors and their caregivers at multiple time points after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. The domains being studied include early identification of deterioration (physiological, mental), management of impaired physical functioning, pain, sleep and sexual dysfunction, improving nutrition and communication, and screening and treatment of cognitive impairment and mental health disorders.Several technologies are already being marketed and many more are in various stages of development. These technologies mostly still require clinical trials outcome testing. However, lacking a formal regulatory approval process, some are already in use.

SUMMARY

Plans for long-term management of ICU survivors must account for the development of a holistic follow-up system that incorporates AI across multiple platforms. A tiered post-ICU screening program may be established wherein AI tools managed by ICU follow-up clinics provide appropriate assistance without human intervention in cases with less pathology and refer severe cases to expert treatment.

Aspiration Pneumonia

Aspiration pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection that results from inhalation of foreign material, often gastric and oropharyngeal contents. It is important to distinguish this from a similar entity, aspiration with chemical pneumonitis, as treatment approaches may differ. An evolving understanding of the human microbiome has shed light on the pathogenesis of aspiration pneumonia, suggesting that dysbiosis, repetitive injury, and inflammatory responses play a role in its development. Risk factors for aspiration events involve a complex interplay of anatomical and physiological dysfunctions in the nervous, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary systems. Current treatment strategies have shifted away from anaerobic organisms as leading pathogens. Prevention of aspiration pneumonia primarily involves addressing oropharyngeal dysphagia, a significant risk factor for aspiration pneumonia, particularly among elderly individuals and those with cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders.

Interventions for Postextubation Dysphagia in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of dysphagia interventions for patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation (⩾48 h) in critical care units.

DATA SOURCES

We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, OVID, CINAHL, Wanfang (China), CNKI (China), and ProQuest Dissertations for studies published up to December 31, 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomized trials, and cohort studies comparing dysphagia rehabilitation - such as swallowing stimulation, swallowing and respiratory muscle exercise, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation - with standard care or no treatment. The primary outcomes assessed were dysphagia severity, time to resume oral intake, and incidence of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.

DATA EXTRACTION

Detailed information on study design, setting, participant demographics, interventions, and outcomes was systematically extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Our analysis included ten studies with a total of 1031 participants. The findings demonstrate a significant reduction in dysphagia severity, time to oral intake and the risk of aspiration pneumonia, and an improvement in quality of life among patients receiving swallowing therapy. However, no substantial difference was found in nutritional status. Limited data availability necessitated a descriptive presentation of outcomes like the risk of aspiration, ICU/hospital stay duration, pharyngeal/oral residue severity, and intervention-related adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The current evidence for the effectiveness of dysphagia interventions in critically ill patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation is limited. There is a pressing need for future research, particularly high-quality RCTs employing standardized outcome measures, to substantiate these findings.

Management of swallowing disorders in ICU patients - A multinational expert opinion

BACKGROUND

Dysphagia is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet it remains underrecognized and often unmanaged despite being associated with life-threatening complications, prolonged ICU stays and hospitalization.

PURPOSE

To propose an expert opinion for the diagnosis and management of dysphagia developed from evidence-based clinical recommendations and practitioner insights.

METHODS

A multinational group of dysphagia and critical care experts conducted a literature review using a modified ACCORD methodology. Based on a fusion of the available evidence and the panel's clinical experience, an expert opinion on best practice management was developed.

RESULTS

The panel recommends adopting clinical algorithms intended to promote standardized, high-quality care that triggers timely systematic dysphagia screening, assessment, and treatment of extubated and tracheostomized patients in the ICU.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the lack of robust scientific evidence, two clinical management algorithms are proposed for use by multidisciplinary teams to improve early systematic detection and effective management of dysphagia in ICU patients. Additionally, emerging therapeutic options such as neurostimulation have the potential to improve the quality of ICU dysphagia care.

Prediction Models for Dysphagia in Intensive Care Unit after Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Dysphagia is a common condition that can independently lead to death in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), particularly those who require mechanical ventilation. Despite extensive research on the predictors of dysphagia development, consistency across these studies is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify predictors and summarize existing prediction models for dysphagia in ICU patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.

METHODS

We searched five databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Studies that developed a post-extubation dysphagia risk prediction model in ICU were included. A meta-analysis of individual predictor variables was performed with mixed-effects models. The risk of bias was assessed using the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST).

RESULTS

After screening 1,923 references, we ultimately included nine studies in our analysis. The most commonly identified risk predictors included in the final risk prediction model were the length of indwelling endotracheal tube ≥72 h, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score ≥15, age ≥65 years, and duration of gastric tube ≥72 h. However, PROBAST analysis revealed a high risk of bias in the performance of these prediction models, mainly because of the lack of external validation, inadequate pre-screening of variables, and improper treatment of continuous and categorical predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

These models are particularly susceptible to bias because of numerous limitations in their development and inadequate external validation. Future research should focus on externally validating the existing model in ICU patients with varying characteristics. Moreover, assessing the acceptance and effectiveness of the model in clinical practice is needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 134:517-525, 2024.

Effectiveness of Swallowing and Oral Care Interventions on Oral Intake and Salivary Flow of Patients Following Endotracheal Extubation at a Tertiary Care Center: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction

Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are the most frequently used life-sustaining interventions in critical care. Prolonged intubation can lead to post-extubation dysphagia, affecting the individual's nutritional level and communication ability. Thereupon, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of swallowing and oral care interventions in resuming oral intake and increasing salivary flow in post-extubation patients.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in critical care units of a tertiary care setting, where 92 post-extubation patients who had undergone intubation for≥48 hours were enrolled. The intervention group received swallowing and oral interventions, including safe swallowing education (SSE), toothbrushing, salivary gland massage, oral cavity, and swallowing exercises. In contrast, the control group received standard oral care every 8th hour. Oral intake was assessed daily with the Functional Oral Intake Scale, and the salivary flow measurement was assessed with oral Schirmer's test on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after extubation.

Results

The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics showed that the groups were homogenous. The intervention group achieved total oral intake two days earlier than the control group. Findings also showed that the participants in the intervention group had a significant increase in salivary flow than in the control group on the 3rd and 7th days of the intervention.

Conclusion

Swallowing and oral care interventions help post-extubation patients resume early oral intake and increase salivary flow after prolonged intubation. Hence, it improves the patient's outcome toward a healthy life.

Efficacy and safety of oropharyngeal muscle strength training on poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate how oropharyngeal muscle strength training affected the safety and performance of swallowing in patients with poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled of Trials, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase databases and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched, for publications in English, from database inception to December 2022.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies comparing the effect of oropharyngeal muscle strength training with conventional dysphagia therapy in patients with poststroke. Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were assessed as the main outcomes.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included studies, with disagreements resolved by another researcher. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Review Manager V.5.3 was employed for the meta-analysis. Random effect models were used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Seven studies with 259 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that oropharyngeal muscle strength training could reduce PAS score compared with conventional dysphagia therapy (mean difference=-0.98, 95% CI -1.34 to -0.62, p<0.0001, I2=28%). The results also showed that oropharyngeal muscle strength training could increase FOIS score (mean difference=1.04, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.54, p<0.0001, I2=0%) and the vertical displacement of the hyoid bone (mean difference=0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.38, p=0.04, I2=0%) compared with conventional dysphagia therapy.

CONCLUSION

In patients with poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia, oropharyngeal muscle strength training can improve swallowing safety and performance.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022302471.

Strategies of Screening and Treating Post-Extubation Dysphagia: An Overview of the Situation in Greek-Cypriot ICUs

Post-extubation dysphagia (PED) can lead to serious health problems in critically ill patients. Contrasting its high incidence rate of 12.4% reported in a recent observational study, many ICUs lack routine bedside screening, likely due to limited awareness. This study aimed to establish baseline data on the current approaches and the status of perceived best practices in PED screening and treatment, as well as to assess awareness of PED. A nationwide cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in all fourteen adult ICUs in the Republic of Cyprus in June 2018, with a 100% response rate. Over 85% of ICUs lacked a standard screening protocol for PED. The most commonly reported assessment methods were cough reflex testing and the water swallow test. Treatment approaches included muscle strengthening exercises without swallowing and swallowing exercises. Only 28.6% of ICUs acknowledged PED as a common issue. The study identified significant gaps in awareness and knowledge regarding PED screening and treatment in Greek-Cypriot ICUs. Urgent implementation of comprehensive dysphagia education programs within the units is necessary, and interdisciplinary collaboration among nurses, intensivists, and speech and language therapists is crucial to improve the quality of care provided.

Association Between Early Speech-Language Pathology Consultation and Pneumonia After Cardiac Surgery

PURPOSE

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are reported to be at higher risk for oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration, which may predispose them to respiratory complications such as pneumonia. Speech-language pathology consultation facilitates early identification of swallowing difficulties providing appropriate and timely interventions during the postoperative period. This study explores the association between pneumonia and timing of speech-language pathology order entry and evaluation following cardiac surgery.

METHOD

A retrospective study was performed on adults who underwent cardiac surgery in a tertiary care center, from July 2016 through December 2019. Patients with preexisting tracheostomy upon admission for cardiac surgery were excluded. The medical records of patients who had speech-language pathology consultation orders for swallowing concerns were analyzed in order to compare the timing of speech-language pathology order entry, completion of speech-language pathology evaluation, and incidence of pneumonia during hospitalization following cardiac surgery.

RESULTS

During the study period, 3,168 patients underwent cardiac surgery, of which 2,864 patients met the inclusion criteria. Speech-language pathology was ordered for 473 cases (16.5%), and clinical swallow evaluation (CSE) was completed by speech-language pathology in 419 patients (88.6%), of which 309 patients were suspected to have dysphagia (73.7%). Among the 2,391 patients without speech-language pathology consultation, pneumonia was reported in 34 patients (1.42%). Pneumonia was reported in 53 patients in the speech-language pathology cohort, of which 43 patients (13.9%) were suspected to have dysphagia. Patients with pneumonia had significantly longer median time (20.0 hr, range: 4.9-26.7) from speech-language pathology orders to completion of CSE, compared to those without pneumonia (13.2 hr, range: 3.2-22.4, p = .025). There was no significant difference in the median time from extubation to speech-language pathology consultation order time in patients with pneumonia versus those without pneumonia. Patients with pneumonia were observed to have prolonged, although not statistically significant, median time from extubation to CSE (70.4 hr, range: 21.2-215) compared to those without pneumonia (42.2 hr, range: 19.5-105.8, p = .066).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients without pneumonia in the postoperative period were observed to have shorter median time from extubation to speech-language pathology evaluation. Future studies are needed to further understand the impact of early speech-language pathology consultation and incidence of pneumonia in this population.

Safety and performance of oropharyngeal muscle strength training in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia during oral feeding: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Dysphagia is a common functional disorder after stroke. Most patients post-stroke are incapable of oral feeding, which often leads to complications such as malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia and dehydration that seriously affect the quality of life of patients. Oropharyngeal muscle strength training is a major method of swallowing training, and recent studies have focused on healthy adults, elderly persons, and patients with head and neck cancer or neurodegenerative diseases; but there have been few studies on such training in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Our study aims to systematically review the safety and performance of oropharyngeal muscle strength training in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia during oral feeding.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov databases will be systematically searched, and all relevant articles in English from the establishment of the databases to January 2022 will be reviewed. The study will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and will be reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines. The primary outcome measures include the Penetration-Aspiration Scale and the Functional Oral Intake Scale. Two authors will independently screen the articles, extract the data and assess the study quality. Any disagreements during this process will be resolved by discussion or by consultation with a third author. Next, quantitative or qualitative, subgroup and sensitivity analyses of the included literature data will be performed as appropriate.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review as no primary data collection will be required. The results of the present study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal in the field of deglutition disorders.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022302471.