Publications by authors named "Stacey Skoretz"

Use of noninvasive ventilation provided by a helmet increased globally during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach may reduce need for intubation and its associated clinical complications in critically ill patients. Use of helmet interface minimizes virus aerosolization while enabling verbal communication, oral feeding and coughing/expectoration of secretions during its administration.

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Thousands of rescued harbor seals () require rehabilitation worldwide. Many require resource intensive gavage feeding due to abandonment soon after birth. Little is known about seal swallowing, therefore, our primary objective was to determine the feasibility of conducting videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFS) on seal pups prior to their release.

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Purpose: To identify research priorities related to COVID rehabilitation from the perspectives of persons with lived experiences, clinicians, researchers, community organization and policy representatives.

Materials & Methods: We conducted five international consultations to identify key issues and research priorities in COVID rehabilitation using (i) web-based questionnaires, (ii) synchronous discussions, and (iii) content analysis of COVID rehabilitation research conference presentations. We collated responses and notes and then analyzed data using content analytical techniques.

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The global use of noninvasive respiratory support provided by different supportive ventilation delivery methods (SVDMs) has increased, but the impact of these devices on the upper airway structures of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not known. We aimed to compare the pharyngeal cross-sectional area during spontaneous breathing with four different SVDMs: intranasal masks, oronasal masks, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and helmet in patients with ALS. We compared measures of the pharyngeal area during spontaneous breathing and SVDM use.

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Infants born prematurely or with complex medical conditions often require treatment to facilitate safe and efficient feeding. Practice is based on evidence, so frontline clinicians look to the literature to make informed clinical decisions. The aim of this scoping review was to map and describe the literature base for infant feeding and swallowing interventions and to identify areas for further research.

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Abandoned harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina) are frequently recovered by rehabilitation centers and often require intensive nursing, gavage feeding and swallowing rehabilitation prior to anticipated release. Seal upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) histology descriptions relevant to deglutition are limited, impacting advances in rehabilitation practice. Therefore, we examined the histological characteristics of the harbor seal UAT to understand species-specific functional anatomy and characterize adaptations.

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Objective: To identify core practices for workforce management of communication and swallowing functions in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients within the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: A modified Delphi methodology was used, with 3 electronic voting rounds. AGREE II and an adapted COVID-19 survey framework from physiotherapy were used to develop survey statements.

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Importance: The care of patients with a surgically modified airway, such as tracheostomy or laryngectomy, represents a challenge for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective was to review available publications and practice guidelines on management of tracheostomy and laryngectomy in the context of COVID-19. This study performed a review and synthesis of information available in the PubMed database and from national SLP organizations across 6 countries.

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Purpose Speech-language pathologists are playing a crucial role in the assessment and management of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Our goal was to synthesize peer-reviewed literature and association guidelines from around the world regarding dysphagia assessment and management for this specific population. Method A review of publications available in the PubMed database and official guidelines of international groups was performed on May 23, 2020.

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Effective 'valving' in the upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) is essential to temporarily separate the digestive and respiratory pathways. Marine mammals are largely dedicated to feeding underwater, and in many cases swallowing prey whole. In seals, little work has been done to explore the anatomy and function of the UAT in the context of valving mechanisms that function to separate food and air pathways.

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Critically ill patients who require a tracheostomy often have dysphagia. Widespread practice guidelines have yet to be developed regarding the acute assessment and management of dysphagia in patients with tracheostomy. In order for clinicians to base their practice on the best available evidence, they must first assess the applicable literature and determine its quality.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Saliva plays a crucial role in swallowing and maintaining oral health, and understanding its properties and production is essential for effective swallowing assessment, especially in conditions like Sjögren's syndrome (SS) that negatively impact saliva.
  • - The tutorial reviews how SS affects saliva production and composition, highlighting its association with issues like xerostomia (dry mouth), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and reduced quality of life, with a focus on 55 studies that reveal the impacts of salivary changes.
  • - Recommendations include incorporating formal saliva assessments in clinical practice and employing a multidisciplinary approach to improve swallowing management, ultimately enhancing treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.
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Dysphagia occurs in 11% to 93% of patients following tracheostomy. Despite its benefits, the tracheostomy often co-exists with dysphagia given its anatomical location, the shared pathway of the respiratory and alimentary systems, and the medical complexities necessitating the need for the artificial airway. When tracheostomy weaning commences, it is often debated whether the methods used facilitate swallowing recovery.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The scoping review aims to explore literature on swallowing and tracheostomy in critical care settings, highlighting the challenges in assessing and intervening for dysphagia due to patients' complex medical conditions.
  • - Eight electronic databases and various additional sources were searched, resulting in the review of 725 articles, with 85 meeting the strict inclusion criteria focusing on adults who had tracheostomy placement.
  • - Findings revealed a wide range of dysphagia prevalence (11% to 93%) and significant variability in study designs, sampling methods, and assessment approaches, indicating a need for more standardized evidence in this area.
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Purpose Standard treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is radiation therapy (RT); however, long-term effects of RT frequently include significant swallowing impairments (dysphagia; Gaziano, 2002; Hui, Chan, & Le, 2018). Our objective was to describe swallowing physiology in consecutive outpatients with a history of NPC following RT using standardized methods. Understanding dysphagia characteristics in this patient population could ultimately inform rehabilitation strategies and improve patient outcomes.

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Introduction: Understanding the influences of early swallowing function and feeding environment on the development of communication will enhance prevention and intervention initiatives for young children. This scoping review will help elucidate key elements affecting the developmental trajectory of communicative systems, typically robust and well-developed by formal school entry. We aim to (1) map the current state of the literature in a growing field of interest that has the potential to advance knowledge translation, (2) identify existing gaps and (3) provide research direction for future investigations surrounding feeding-swallowing functions and environment that support or forestall communication development in young children.

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Background: Dysphagia following prolonged intubation after cardiovascular (CV) surgery is common occurring in 67% of patients; however, this population's swallowing physiology has never been prospectively evaluated using standardized methods. Hence, prior to conducting a larger study, our primary objective was to determine the feasibility of assessing swallowing physiology using instrumentation and validated interpretation methods in cardiovascular surgical patients following prolonged intubation.

Method: From July to October 2011, we approached adults undergoing CV surgery at our institution who were intubated > 48 h.

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Objectives: To conduct a systematic review to elucidate the frequency, recovery, and associated outcomes for poststroke aphasia over the long-term.

Data Sources: Using the Cochrane Stroke Strategy, we searched 10 databases, 13 journals, 3 conferences, and the gray literature.

Study Selection: Our a priori protocol criteria included unselected samples of adult stroke patients from randomized controlled trials or consecutive cohorts.

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Background: Fibrosis is a common side effect of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Although treatments for fibrosis have been developed, valid and reliable measurement tools are needed to verify their efficacy. The purpose of this review was to identify and appraise tools used to measure head and neck fibrosis.

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Following cardiovascular (CV) surgery, prolonged mechanical ventilation of >48 h increases dysphagia frequency over tenfold: 51 % compared to 3-4 % across all durations. Our primary objective was to identify dysphagia frequency following CV surgery with respect to intubation duration. Our secondary objective was to explore characteristics associated with dysphagia across the entire sample.

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Neurodegenerative diseases are often associated with life-threatening declines in respiratory and swallowing mechanisms. We report the case of a 70-year-old man who had postoperative dysphagia and respiratory failure that required reintubation after coronary artery bypass surgery. Impairment of the patient's speech, swallowing, and respiratory mechanisms identified during postoperative clinical and instrumental examinations was suggestive of a neurodegenerative disease.

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Background: Considering that the incidence of dysphagia is as high as 55% following acute stroke, we undertook a systematic review of the literature to identify lesion sites that predict its presence after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We searched 14 databases, 17 journals, 3 conference proceedings and the grey literature using the Cochrane Stroke Group search strategy and terms for MRI and dysphagia. We evaluated study quality using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool and extracted individual-level data.

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Hospitalized patients are often at increased risk for oropharyngeal dysphagia following prolonged endotracheal intubation. Although reported incidence can be high, it varies widely. We conducted a systematic review to determine: (1) the incidence of dysphagia following endotracheal intubation, (2) the association between dysphagia and intubation time, and (3) patient characteristics associated with dysphagia.

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The objective of this clinical paper is to enhance nurses' understanding of normal swallowing physiology and post-operative swallowing impairments (dysphagia) in patients following cardiovascular surgery. Ultimately, the goals of dysphagia assessment and management are to prevent pulmonary complications secondary to aspiration and to ensure safe and adequate nutritional intake and hydration. Risk factors for dysphagia include stroke, compromised respiratory status, endotracheal intubation and/or tracheostomy tubes, and a dependency for feeding and oral care.

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