[Exploration and approach to artificial airway dysphagia]

Abstract

Airway isolation by endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy impedes or even interrupts speech and swallowing. Pharyngeal and laryngeal impairment frequently occurs after extubation or de-cannulation, common consequences being dysphonia, dysphagia and the aspiration of oral secretions, food, or fluids. Aspiration often leads to pneumonia and eventually death. Although the literature reports a high frequency of dysphagia following intubation and tracheostomy, the data vary considerably, and the true incidence of oropharyngeal dysphagia following artificial airway isolation remains to be established. We conducted a systematic review of the available evidence, in order to assess oropharyngeal dysphagia physiology, diagnosis and treatment.