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Semin Speech Lang 2019; 40(03): 170-187
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688980
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Clinical Decision Making in the ICU: Dysphagia Screening, Assessment, and Treatment

Martin B. Brodsky
1   Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Emily B. Mayfield
2   Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa
,
Roxann Diez Gross
3   The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
03 June 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Clinicians often perceive the intensive care unit as among the most intimidating environments in patient care. With the proper training, acquisition of skill, and approach to clinical care, feelings of intimidation may be overcome with the great rewards this level of care has to offer. This review—spanning the ages of birth to senescence and covering oral/nasal endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy—presents a clinically relevant, directly applicable review of screening, assessment, and treatment of dysphagia in the patients who are critically ill for clinical speech–language pathologists and identifies gaps in the clinical peer-reviewed literature for researchers.

Keywords

critical care - intensive care unit - infant - child - adult - intubation - tracheostomy - noninvasive ventilation - screening - assessment

Future Directions

Demonstrating value of SLP services is necessary to preserve the vital role of SLP in critical care settings. Efforts continue to develop and validate objective screening, evaluation, and treatment methods, and robust outcomes measures.