Post-Extubation Swallowing Function in Critical Patients with and without COVID-19 During the Pandemic

Previous research has described swallowing disorders in critical hospitalized patients who require intubation and mechanical ventilation. In the context of the pandemic, it is fundamental to investigate the severity of dysphagia in patients suffering from COVID-19. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the swallowing function in extubated critical patients with and without COVID-19. A retrospective cohort study was carried out, considering a convenience sample of 43 patients over the age of 15 years, hospitalized at the San Juan de Dios Hospital between June 1st and August 31st, 2020, and intubated, with and without the diagnosis of COVID-19. Of 43 patients, 22 were diagnosed with COVID-19 and were intubated for significantly more days when compared with those without COVID-19 (p=.002). Immediately following tracheal extubation, 90% of the sample was diagnosed with dysphagia. There was no significant difference in the FILS scores nor significant association in the severity of dysphagia between patients with and without COVID-19. Ten days post-extubation, there were no significant differences in the FILS score between both groups. The FILS scores increased significantly in the COVID-19 (p=.016) and non-COVID-19 (p=.004) patients after 10 days of extubation. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the FILS score and dysphagia severity between critically ill patients with and without COVID-19, although there was a high prevalence of dysphagia in both groups, which could be associated with endotracheal intubation and endotracheal tubes. The incorporation of speech and language pathologists into Critical Care Units is essential. Moreover, it is recommended that further research is carried out in this field.