Incidence and factors associated with dysphagia in intensive care unit patients 24 h after extubation

Post-extubation dysphagia deserves attention because it places patients at risk following extubation, especially critically ill patients in intensive care unit. However, there are limited studies of post-extubation dysphagia in the early stages after extubation.

To investigate the incidence and factors associated with post-extubation dysphagia among patients in intensive care unit within 24 h of extubation.

A prospective descriptive study was carried out with 173 adult patients in intensive care unit with tracheal extubation at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China. The Gugging Swallowing Screen was used to evaluate the swallowing function of patients 1, 4 and 24 h after extubation. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from medical records.

The incidence of post-extubation dysphagia in patients within 1, 4 and 24 h after extubation was 86.71% (n = 150), 63.01% (n = 109) and 43.35% (n = 75), respectively. The risk factors included older age (OR = 1.057, 95%CI [1.039, 1.072], p < .001), cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.098, 95%CI [0.082, 0.127], p = .012), thyroid dysfunction (OR = 5.042, 95%CI [1.527, 13.684], p < .001), non-post-operative admission (OR = 3.186, 95%CI [1.142, 14.422], p = .036), mechanical ventilation duration >48 h (OR = 3.558, 95%CI [1.217, 10.385], p = .020), intubation duration >24 h (OR = 0.533, 95%CI [0.278, 0.898], p = .048) and intubation model size ≤7 (OR = 0.327, 95%CI [0.158, 0.788], p < .01).

This study revealed a high incidence of post-extubation dysphagia in critical patients in the 24 h after extubation, with the incidence decreasing over time. Screening of early post-extubation dysphagia after extubation is needed, but the specific evaluation time point requires further investigation. Patients with older age, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, post-operative admission, longer mechanical ventilation time, thicker intubation models and longer intubation time have a higher risk of the occurrence of post-extubation dysphagia.

The incidence of post-extubation dysphagia is very high in the early stage. Within 24 h after extubation, the patient's swallowing function should be actively evaluated, and the occurrence of aspiration should be vigilant. Patients with older age, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid dysfunction, post-operative admission, longer mechanical ventilation time, thicker intubation models and longer intubation time should receive more attention.