Coordination of Pharyngeal and Laryngeal Swallowing Events During Single Liquid Swallows After Oral Endotracheal Intubation for Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

The ARDS group had only 11 patients, so the results are imprecise and may not detect clinically important differences. Only 26 of 191 ARDS patients completed VFSS, and 11 of 26 met eligibility, so the findings may not represent all ARDS patients. The study included only orally intubated ARDS patients who were referred for VFSS, not all ARDS patients or other critically ill patients who were intubated. Recording media and frame rates differed between ARDS patients and healthy volunteers. Only one ARDS patient aspirated, so the study cannot determine whether the timing changes increase aspiration risk. The field of view was intentionally limited for ARDS patients to reduce radiation exposure, which differs from the healthy volunteers.

The authors declared no conflict of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.

Do not conclude that delayed laryngeal closure causes aspiration or that these timing changes require a specific treatment. Only one of 11 ARDS patients aspirated, and the study compared timing in a small group without testing an intervention.