Clinical Evaluation of Swallowing Disorders as a Predictor of Extubation Failure

Patients with failed extubation stay significantly longer in an intensive care unit (ICU) and have a higher mortality rate, than those intubated successfully. Reintubation is associated with life-threatening complications and a poor prognosis. Functional respiratory tests are frequently used as weaning parameters, however, they are not accurate enough to predict extubation failure. The incidence of swallowing dysfunction is underestimated, mainly among patients whose intubation lasts longer than 48 h.We previously observed that the assessment of the swallowing function and oropharyngeal motricity, conducted by the physiotherapist before extubation could be helpful for making decisions to extubate patients intubated for over 6 days. The objective of this study is to validate a scale previously devised and used for physiotherapist bedside evaluation of the swallowing function and oropharyngeal motricity, among patients intubated for over 6 days, to determine whether this scale is a good predictor of airway secretion-related extubation failure.Expected results : to validate a scale previously devised called " physiotherapist evaluation of the swallowing function and oropharyngeal motricity before extubation" by the mean of a multicentric study. In our hypothesis the clinical parameters studied could be predictive of extubation failure. Then, this evaluation could help the medical decision in the choice of the good time for extubation. The final objective is to lower the mortality related to extubation failure.