Dr. Sameh Eltaybani, PhD, Project Senior Lecturer in Global Nursing Research Center
Some patients in intensive care units (ICUs) require tubes to be inserted through their mouths or noses to their windpipes (trachea) for treatment purposes. After these tubes are removed, many people experience trouble swallowing (dysphagia), which can lead to serious issues like poor nutrition and longer hospital stays. Dr. Sameh Eltaybani, a Project Senior Lecturer at the Global Nursing Research Center, collaborated with researchers in Egypt to understand why some patients who have been taken off tracheal tubes (extubated) have difficulty swallowing. The study found that more than one-third of patients face severe swallowing problems after extubation, which puts them at risk for serious complications. The research team also found that certain factors made it harder for these patients to be ready to eat and drink, such as being older, having a higher severity of illness score, having a higher body mass index (BMI), having a history of smoking, and staying in the ICU for a long time.
Access the full paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38895878/