Evaluation and Treatment of Dysphagia in Public and Private Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Greece

Overview

Journal Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol

Publisher Thieme

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2024 Feb 7

PMID 38322439

Authors

Soultana L Papadopoulou

Evangelia Kitsanou

Ermioni Brahimi

Georgios Papathanakos

Ioannis Andrianopoulos

Stavroula J Theodorou

Vasilios Koulouras

Nafsica Ziavra

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Dysphagia is a significant but underrecognized clinical issue in the intensive care unit (ICU), and it is associated with various complications. Despite its clinical importance, there is limited research and no Greek ICU-specific guidelines for managing dysphagic patients. Additionally, only a few ICUs in Greece have dysphagia specialists, specifically speech-language pathologists (SLPs) providing their expertise. Τo identify the current practices for dysphagia management (screening, assessment, treatment) and gain insight into ICU directors' awareness/perceptions of the prevalence, complications, and risk of dysphagia. We identified 138 Greek ICUs. Data were collected from ICU (including pediatric and neonatal) directors, working in public and private hospitals, via a 24-item, anonymous online questionnaire, within a 4-month period. Our survey was completed by 45 ICU directors. Most participants (84.4%) reported that dysphagia is a relevant clinical problem in their ICU, and 51.1% estimated a frequency rate < 20%. Non-instrumental approaches are mainly utilized to screen and diagnose dysphagia, whereas enteral nutrition and diet modifications are used to manage dysphagia. Additionally, 64.4% of ICU directors agreed that SLPs are essential for the management of dysphagic patients, and 66.7%, that awareness of dysphagia in their ICU could be increased. The current study documented the methods and approaches used to manage dysphagic patients in Greek ICUs. The ICU directors seem to recognize the clinical significance of dysphagia and its complications. According to our findings, the employment of SLPs could result in a more comprehensive and intensive approach and improve the quality of care for these patients.

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