Aspiration in Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors

A thin, flexible endoscope designed for assessment of laryngeal structures is passed through the nose to the oropharynx, visualizing the laryngeal structures, and the base of tongue and the pharynx. If needed 4% topical lidocaine and/or oxymetazoline (Afrin) will be administered. Swallowing will then be evaluated directly with six food boluses of 5 ml each. All patients will be allowed to swallow spontaneously without a verbal command to swallow. Video of the examinations will be recorded and presence of dysphagia will be designated independently by 3 different observers (one pulmonary physician and two speech language pathologists (SLPs)). This procedure will take 5-10 minutes. The camera will then be removed.

Following the FEES, a speech language pathologist (SLP) will perform a noninvasive bedside swallow evaluation (BSE). The SLP will be blinded to the results of the FEES, and the name of the SLP performing the BSE will not be recorded. No other identifying information will be collected regarding the SLP performing the test.