Patterns and predictors of swallowing resolution following adult traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the patterns of swallowing resolution and outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in an acute care setting and document the risk factors or predictors of resolution of swallowing function.


METHODS
117 consecutive TBI patients who had received speech pathology intervention for dysphagia during acute postinjury care.


METHODS
Temporal measures relating to pattern of resolution of dysphagia postinjury.


RESULTS
75% of patients were assessed by 2 weeks postinjury, commenced oral intake by 17 days, and ceased supplementation by 3 weeks. By an average of 22 days after admission, 47% had progressed to normal-consistency diet and fluids. Duration to the first swallowing assessment was a predictor for achieving total oral intake and returning to normal intake. There was some preliminary support for severity of CT data and presence/absence of a tracheostomy as predictors for return to normal intake.


CONCLUSIONS
The current data document the natural history of swallowing resolution and proposes prognostic factors for patients with impaired swallowing following TBI. Establishing clinical parameters that can help predict patterns of swallowing resolution over the course of acute care admission may greatly assist inpatient management and discharge/rehabilitation planning.
Ward
Elizabeth C
EC
Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia. liz.ward@uq.edu.au
Green
Karly
K
Morton
Ann-Louise
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome