Functional Laryngeal Assessment in Patients with Tracheostomy Following COVID-19 a Prospective Cohort Study.
C Dawson, P Nankivell, J P Pracy and 7 others
PMID 35841455WHAT IT FOUND
In 48 patients with tracheostomy after severe COVID-19, impaired airway protection was linked to longer artificial airway use and ICU stays.
At discharge, most tolerated regular food and fluids, but the study had no control group.
Key findings
01Impaired airway protection was observed in 21 of 48 patients and was significantly associated with inability to swallow fluids and solids safely.
02Patients with impaired airway protection had significantly longer total artificial airway duration, tracheostomy tube duration, and intensive care unit stays.
03At hospital discharge, the majority of patients tolerated regular fluids and solids, with only one patient remaining nil by mouth.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size (48 patients) and no control group, which limits the ability to generalize findings or determine if these outcomes differ from non-COVID critical illness. The assessment scales (Patterson and PAS) were not validated specifically for this population. Scoring was not blinded, which introduces a risk of confirmation bias. The study was a quality assurance audit, not a randomized trial, so associations do not prove causation.
Declared interests
The paper states it uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS. No specific commercial funding or conflicts of interest are declared in the text provided.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the associations as evidence that laryngeal assessment itself improves outcomes. This was an observational audit without a control group, so it describes what happened to these patients rather than proving that the assessment method caused better recovery.