Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Strategies of Screening and Treating Post-extubation Dysphagia: An Overview of the Situation in Greek-Cypriot ICUs

Version 1 : Received: 7 June 2023 / Approved: 8 June 2023 / Online: 8 June 2023 (04:39:36 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 20 December 2023 / Approved: 21 December 2023 / Online: 21 December 2023 (09:11:40 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Mpouzika, M.; Iordanou, S.; Kyranou, M.; Iliopoulou, K.; Parissopoulos, S.; Kalafati, M.; Karanikola, M.; Papathanassoglou, E. Strategies of Screening and Treating Post-Extubation Dysphagia: An Overview of the Situation in Greek-Cypriot ICUs. Healthcare 2023, 11, 2283. Mpouzika, M.; Iordanou, S.; Kyranou, M.; Iliopoulou, K.; Parissopoulos, S.; Kalafati, M.; Karanikola, M.; Papathanassoglou, E. Strategies of Screening and Treating Post-Extubation Dysphagia: An Overview of the Situation in Greek-Cypriot ICUs. Healthcare 2023, 11, 2283.

Abstract

Post-extubation dysphagia (PED) can lead to serious health problems in critically ill patients. Contrasting its high incidence rate of 12.4% reported in a recent observational study, many ICUs lack routine bedside screening, likely due to limited awareness. This study aimed to establish baseline data on the current approaches and the status of perceived best practices in PED screening and treatment, as well as to assess awareness of PED. A nationwide cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in all fourteen adult ICUs in the Republic of Cyprus in June 2018, with a 100% response rate. Over 85% of ICUs lacked a standard screening protocol for PED. The most commonly reported assessment methods were cough reflex testing and the water swallow test. Treatment approaches included muscle strengthening exercises without swallowing and swallowing exercises. Only 28.6% of ICUs acknowledged PED as a common issue. The study identified significant gaps in awareness and knowledge regarding PED screening and treatment in Greek-Cypriot ICUs. Urgent implementation of comprehensive dysphagia education programs within the units is necessary, and interdisciplinary collaboration among nurses, intensivists, and speech and language therapists is crucial to improve the quality of care provided.

Keywords

assessment; awareness; diagnosis; dysphagia; intensive care; management; screening; treatment; practices

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Clinical Medicine

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 21 December 2023
Commenter: Meropi Mpouzika
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: We would like to upload the modified version of the paper as we conducted thorough English editing
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