Using ventilators for speaking and swallowing.
An inflated cuff, although commonly thought to be required for the ventilator-dependent patient with a tracheostomy cannula, precludes speaking and has adverse implications for swallowing. Clinical trials with five ventilator-dependent, cognitively intact individuals with glottic control document that a deflated cuff is compatible with ventilation, preserves oral communication, and restores safe alimentation by mouth.
Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21239.
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Tippett
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Siebens
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013060:Speech