[Postextubation dysphagia in intensive care unit : Epidemiology, clinical course, and management]

Postextubation dysphagia (PED) is common in intensive care units (ICU), affecting about 20% of patients of mixed medical surgical ICU populations. PED is an independent risk factor for increased 28-day and 90-day mortality in both neurological and nonneurological ICU patients (28-day mortality: plus 9%). The increased mortacity risk can be demonstrated for up to approximately one year after the ICU stay. Due to the consequences of PED, all ICU patients should undergo systematic dysphagia screening after extubation/decannulation (e.g., water swallow test) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of the swallowing (FEES) to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is interdisciplinary with nutrition adaptation/nutrition introduction or food restriction, physical/speech therapy and, if necessary, interventional procedures in the future.