Post-extubation dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients: a single-center case-series study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care
• Trauma Surgery
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Pediatric trauma patients undergoing tracheal intubation are at risk for post-extubation complications.
• Dysphagia, a swallowing disorder, can significantly impact recovery and long-term outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between ventilator support duration and the incidence of dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients.
• To identify risk factors for post-extubation dysphagia in pediatric trauma survivors.

Main Methods:

• A case-series study analyzed data from pediatric trauma patients (<16 years) who underwent tracheal intubation.
• Patients were categorized based on the presence of dysphagia within 72 hours post-extubation.
• Data on injury severity (Abbreviated Injury Scale), ventilator support duration, and hospital stay were compared between groups.

Main Results:

• Of 53 analyzed patients, 22 developed post-extubation dysphagia, often associated with head trauma.
• The dysphagia group exhibited more severe head injuries (AIS 4 [4-5] vs. 4 [0-4], p<0.05).
• Longer ventilator support (7 days [4-11] vs. 1 day [1-2.5], p<0.05) and hospital stay (27 days [18.0-40.3] vs. 11 days [10.0-21.0], p<0.05) were observed in patients with dysphagia.

Conclusions:

• Severe head trauma and prolonged mechanical ventilation are significant risk factors for dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients.
• Early recognition of these risk factors is crucial for timely intervention.
• This facilitates tailored treatment planning, including speech-language pathology services and nutritional support strategies.