Efficacy of speech therapy in post-intubation patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose to verify the efficacy of speech therapy in the early return of oral intake in patients with post-orotracheal intubation dysphagia. Methods It was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial for two years with patients of intensive care units of a hospital. Study inclusion criteria were orotracheal intubation>48hours, age≥18 years old, clinical stability, and dysphagia. Exclusion criteria were tracheotomy, score 4 to 7 in the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), neurological disorders. Patients were randomized into speech treatment or control group (ten days of follow-up). The treated group (TG) received guidance, therapeutic techniques, airway protection and maneuvers, orofacial myofunctional and vocal exercises, diet introduction; the control group (CG) received SHAM treatment. Primary outcomes were oral intake progression, dysphagia severity, and tube feeding permanence. Results In the initial period of study, 240 patients were assessed and 40 (16.6%) had dysphagia. Of this, 32 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 17 (53%) received speech therapy. Tube feeding permanence was shorter in TG (median of 3 days) compared to CG (median of 10 days) (p=0.004). The size effect of the intervention on tube feeding permanence was statistically significant between groups (Cohen's d=1.21). TG showed progress on FOIS scores compared to CG (p=0.005). TG also had a progression in severity levels of Dysphagia protocol (from moderate to mild dysphagia) (p<0.001). Conclusion Speech therapy favors an early progression of oral intake in post-intubation patients with dysphagia. Clinical Trial Registration: RBR-9829jk.