Correlation between the severity of critically ill patients and clinical predictors of bronchial aspiration.

Objective: To determine whether the severity of non-neurological critically ill patients correlates with clinical predictors of bronchial aspiration.

Methods: We evaluated adults undergoing prolonged orotracheal intubation (> 48 h) and bedside swallowing assessment within the first 48 h after extubation. We collected data regarding the risk of bronchial aspiration performed by a speech-language pathologist, whereas data regarding the functional level of swallowing were collected with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System (ASHA NOMS) scale and those regarding health status were collected with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA).