Project description:IntroductionPost-extubation dysphagia (PED) can have serious consequences for critically unwell patients. COVID-19 has resulted in an increasing need for a PED screen in order to effectively identify patients and mitigate risk, whilst balancing under-resourced services. Online training provides the advantage of reducing time pressures on staff and supporting social distancing. This project aimed to adapt the Leeds Post-Extubation Dysphagia Screen (L-PEDS) and the associated training package to be more suitable and effective for use during COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe screen was modified to a digital format with additional guidance for users. The training package was shortened and converted to an online package while keeping the interactive mode of training.ResultsPreliminary results of 14 staff members indicate that the median confidence levels for screening patients for PED improved from 5 to 8 (on a scale of 0 to 10) after completing the L-PEDS-COVID training package. Likewise, knowledge of PED improved from a median of 4 to 8 (on a scale of 0 to 10). Training quality was rated at a median of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being very poor; 10 being very good).ConclusionsPreliminary evidence demonstrated increased knowledge of PED and confidence in screening. The development of an adapted version of the L-PEDS and online training package may allow easier implementation of post-extubation dysphagia screening. This could help to compensate for insufficient speech and language therapy critical care staffing, assist in identifying patients at risk and improve outcomes by enabling earlier and safe resumption of oral intake.
Project description:Data on long-term effects of post-extubation dysphagia is lacking. We investigate mid- and long-term clinical outcomes in a large sample of ICU patients with systematic dysphagia screening.DesignOutcome analysis with a follow-up of 6 years or death (whichever occurred earlier) of ICU patients from a prospective observational trial (Dysphagia in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients study) with systematic dysphagia screening.SettingICU of a tertiary care academic center.PatientsNine-hundred thirty-three mixed medical-surgical ICU patients (median age, 66 yr; interquartile range [IQR], 54-74, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score 19 [IQR, 14-24], 71% male).InterventionsICU patients were followed up for a mean follow-up period of 1,731 ± 772 days (4.7 ± 2.1 yr). Primary outcome measures were 180-day and 360-day all-cause mortality in ICU patients with versus without dysphagia.Measurements and main resultsTwo-hundred seventy-three patients died (29.3%) during the observational interval (n = 76 lost to follow-up). In dysphagia screening positive versus negative ICU patients, mortality at 180 days was 16% versus 5.8% (excess mortality 10.2%), whereas mortality at 360 days was 25% versus 9.1% (excess mortality 15.9%). Adjustment for confounders in a Cox model revealed a significant association of dysphagia with all-cause mortality in a time-dependent manner. The risk of death in ICU patients with versus without post-extubation dysphagia declined from about 2.5 times higher to about equal risk for both groups over the first year (i.e. 1.03 yr) post-ICU admission (at 360 d: hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% CI, 0.42-3.70). The mean mortality HR for the first year post-ICU admission was HR 2.09 (95% CI, 1.34-3.24; p = 0.0009).ConclusionsLong-term follow-up of a large cohort of medical-surgical adult ICU patients systematically screened for dysphagia showed that dysphagia is associated with increased hazards for death for up to 1 year after ICU admission. Our data underline effects of post-extubation dysphagia on long-term clinical outcomes in affected critically ill patients.
Project description:BackgroundPost-extubation dysphagia (PED) emerges as a frequent complication following endotracheal intubation within the intensive care unit (ICU). PED has been strongly linked to adverse outcomes, including aspiration, pneumonia, malnutrition, heightened mortality rates, and prolonged hospitalization, resulting in escalated healthcare expenditures. Nevertheless, the reported incidence of PED varies substantially across the existing body of literature. Therefore, the principal objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive estimate of PED incidence in ICU patients undergoing orotracheal intubation.MethodsWe searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Science, Technology Journal Database (VIP), and SinoMed databases from inception to August 2023. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Subsequently, a random-effects model was employed for meta-statistical analysis utilizing the "meta prop" command within Stata SE version 15.0 to ascertain the incidence of PED. In addition, we performed subgroup analyses and meta-regression to elucidate potential sources of heterogeneity among the included studies.ResultsOf 4144 studies, 30 studies were included in this review. The overall pooled incidence of PED was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29-44%). Subgroup analyses unveiled that the pooled incidence of PED, stratified by assessment time (≤ 3 h, 4-6 h, ≤ 24 h, and ≤ 48 h), was as follows: 31.0% (95% CI 8.0-59.0%), 28% (95% CI 22.0-35.0%), 41% (95% CI 33.0-49.0%), and 49.0% (95% CI 34.0-63.0%), respectively. When sample size was 100 < N ≤ 300, the PED incidence was more close to the overall PED incidence. Meta-regression analysis highlighted that sample size, assessment time and mean intubation time constituted the source of heterogeneity among the included studies.ConclusionThe incidence of PED was high among ICU patients who underwent orotracheal intubation. ICU professionals should raise awareness about PED. In the meantime, it is important to develop guidelines or consensus on the most appropriate PED assessment time and assessment tools to accurately assess the incidence of PED.
Project description:BackgroundPost-extubation dysphagia (PED) is recognized as a common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU). Speech and language therapy (SLT) can potentially help improve PED; however, the impact of the timing of SLT initiation on persistent PED has not been well investigated. This study aimed to examine the timing of SLT initiation and its effect on patient outcomes after extubation in the ICU.MethodsWe conducted this multicenter, retrospective, cohort study, collecting data from eight ICUs in Japan. Patients aged ≥ 20 years with orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 h, and those who received SLT due to PED, defined as patients with modified water swallowing test scores of 3 or lower, were included. The primary outcome was dysphagia at hospital discharge, defined as functional oral intake scale score < 5 or death after extubation. Secondary outcomes included dysphagia or death at the seventh, 14th, or 28th day after extubation, aspiration pneumonia, and in-hospital mortality. Associations between the timing of SLT initiation and outcomes were determined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsA total of 272 patients were included. Of them, 82 (30.1%) patients exhibited dysphagia or death at hospital discharge, and their time spans from extubation to SLT initiation were 1.0 days. The primary outcome revealed that every day of delay in SLT initiation post-extubation was associated with dysphagia or death at hospital discharge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.18). Similarly, secondary outcomes showed associations between this per day delay in SLT initiation and dysphagia or death at the seventh day (AOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.05-1.55), 14th day (AOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.13-1.58), or 28th day (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.07-1.36) after extubation and occurrence of aspiration pneumonia (AOR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.17), while per day delay in post-extubation SLT initiation did not affect in-hospital mortality (AOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97-1.12).ConclusionsDelayed initiation of SLT in PED patients was associated with persistent dysphagia or death. Early initiation of SLT may prevent this complication post-extubation. A randomized controlled study is needed to validate these results.
Project description:A 39-year-old female patient with hepatitis B-related decompensated chronic liver disease underwent living donor liver transplantation. Preoperatively, she had a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography, and also a negative dobutamine stress echocardiography test. Intraoperative course went uneventful. Two hours postoperatively, she developed hypotension. Initially, hypotension was treated with fluids and blood products after confirming normal echocardiography, but with time, patient's haemodynamics worsened. Repeat echocardiography showed postero-inferior regional wall motion abnormality. Troponin I was significantly elevated, but ECG was normal. Suspecting myocardial infarction coronary angiography was done which was normal. Based on Mayo's criteria, patient was diagnosed with reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy since postero-inferior wall was involved. Inotropic support failed to maintain haemodynamics and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was placed. Inotropes were gradually tapered and IABP was removed at day 4. Twenty days later, repeat echocardiography was normal and patient was subsequently discharged.
Project description:Background/aimsThis study aimed to evaluate the correlation between clinical risk factors of post-extubation dysphagia (PED) and the severity of impaired pharyngeal swallowing function assessed via videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs).MethodsThis study was a retrospective review of medical records. Of 116 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit and underwent VFSS, 32 who had non-neurologic disorders and experienced prolonged intubation (for more than 48 hours) were diagnosed with PED. The severity of PED was evaluated by using a functional dysphagia scale (FDS) and a penetration aspiration scale (PAS), on the basis of VFSS.ResultsThe Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and total FDS score were positively correlated (r = 0.40, p = 0.02). Intubation duration was positively correlated with total PAS and FDS scores (r = 0.62, p < 0.001; r = 0.65, p < 0.001, respectively). The amounts of residue in the valleculae (RV) and pyriform sinuses (RP) were associated with intubation duration (r = 0.58, p < 0.001; r = 0.57, p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that intubation duration was significantly associated with the total FDS score, RV and RP subscales of the FDS, and total PAS score.ConclusionThe severity of impaired swallowing function, particularly the amount of residue in the pharyngeal recesses assessed via VFSS, was strongly associated with both severity of medical illness and intubation duration. Intubation duration could be a prognostic factor for assessing impaired swallowing function on the basis of VFSS.
Project description:BackgroundWhile the results of previous meta-analyses have shown beneficial effects of corticosteroid therapy on post-extubation stridor and extubation failure in adults, these results might not be generalizable to children because of the differences in anatomy and structure. We aimed to determine the benefits of corticosteroids on those outcomes in pediatric populations.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, and reference lists of articles from inception until February 2019. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies on the efficacy of systemic corticosteroid administration given prior to elective extubation in mechanically ventilated pediatrics were eligible. Outcomes included post-extubation stridor indicating laryngeal edema and extubation failures.ResultsA total of ten randomized controlled trials with 591 pediatric patients were included: seven of the ten studies for post-extubation stridor/suspected upper airway obstruction and nine of the ten studies for extubation failure. The estimate of pooled odds ratios (ORs) for post-extubation stridor/suspected upper airway obstruction was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.21-0.79). When analysis was restricted to trials that had explicit data for infants and explicit data for pediatric patients under 5 years old excluding infants, the estimates of pooled ORs were 0.53 (95% CI: 0.20-1.40) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.38-1.22), respectively. For pediatric patients who received corticosteroids, there was a 0.37-fold lower odds of extubation failure than that in pediatric patients who did not receive corticosteroids (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22-0.61). While three observational studies were included in this review, their estimates have a potential for bias and we did not perform a meta-analysis.ConclusionsDespite a relatively small sample size in each randomized controlled trial and wide ranges of ages and steroid administration regimens, our results suggest that the use of corticosteroids for prevention of post-extubation stridor and extubation failure could be considered to be acceptable in pediatric patients.
Project description:PurposePost-stroke dysphagia is an underdiagnosed but relevant complication, associated with worse outcome, dependency and quality of life of stroke survivors. Detailed mechanisms of post-stroke dysphagia are not very well understood, but established therapeutic concepts are needed. Different interventional studies have been published dealing with post-stroke dysphagia. This systematic review wants to collect and give an overview over the published evidence.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL were searched for relevant interventional studies on post-stroke dysphagia in the (sub-)acute setting (within 3 months of stroke onset). The search has been filtered for randomized trials with an inactive control and the relevant data extracted.ResultsAfter initially finding 2,863 trials, finally 41 trials have been included. Seven different therapeutic concepts have been evaluated (Acupuncture, behavioral/physical therapy, drug therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, pharyngeal electrical stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation). Studies of all modalities have shown some effect on post-stroke dysphagia with several studies raising concerns about the potential bias.ConclusionThe amount and quality of studies are not enough to suggest certain therapies. Some therapeutical concepts (intensive physical therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, drug therapy) seem to be good potential therapeutic options, but further research is needed.
Project description:The presence of side effects during pharmacological treatment is unfortunately a quite common problem. In this review, we focused our attention on adverse events related to 5 alpha-reductase (5α-R) inhibitors (i.e., finasteride and dutasteride), approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Although these drugs are generally well tolerated, many reports described adverse effects in men during treatment, such as sexual dysfunction and mood alteration. In addition, it has been also reported that persistent side effects may occur in some AGA patients. This condition, termed post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) is characterized by sexual side effects (i.e., low libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased arousal and difficulty in achieving orgasm), depression, anxiety and cognitive complaints that are still present despite drug withdrawal. Indeed, some national agencies (e.g., Swedish Medical Products Agency, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of UK and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) required to include multiple persistent side effects within the finasteride labels. As here reported, these observations are mainly based on self-reporting of the symptomatology by the patients and few clinical studies have been performed so far. In addition, molecular mechanisms and/or genetic determinants behind such adverse effects have been poorly explored both in patients and animal models. Therefore, results here discussed indicate that PFS is an emerging clinical problem that needs to be further elucidated.