Dysphagia in Cardiac Surgical Patients_

Summary

The proposed study seeks to determine the incidence of dysphagia and vocal fold mobility impairment (VFMI) in individuals undergoing cardiovascular surgical procedures. It also seeks to determine the impact of postoperative swallowing impairment on health-related outcomes.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Diseases

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing

This procedure involves inserting a flexible laryngoscope that contains a light source and video camera on the end through the open passage of the nose towards the back of the throat in order to visualize the swallowing mechanism.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Simultaneous FEES and Videofluoroscopy instrumental swallowing exam

This procedure involves inserting a flexible laryngoscope that contains a light source and video camera on the end through the open passage of the nose towards the back of the throat in order to visualize the swallowing mechanism. The participant will be asked to perform some voicing tasks, once completed, a videofluoroscopic swallowing exam will occur at the same time. This is like moving x-ray of the participant swallowing foods and liquids (barium).

OTHER

Voluntary Cough Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) Testing

Cough PEF will be performed to index a participant's physiologic airway defense capacity and strength. Testing will occur with the participant seated upright at 90 degrees using an analog peak flow meter with a one-way expiratory valve that prevents a participant from breathing air in from the device to reduce contamination.

OTHER

Reflex Cough Screen

Participants will be seated upright and administered reflex cough testing via a disposable adult aerosol mask with an attached nebulizer that contains a solution to elicit a cough response.

OTHER

Lingual Pressure Testing

Lingual strength will be evaluated using the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI). Participants will be seated upright, and the SLP will place the IOPI air-filled sensing bulb in the midline anterior position on the participant's tongue, posterior to the alveolar ridge.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Speech Testing

Speech assessment will occur with the participant comfortably seated headset microphone with a lapel windscreen connected to a TASCAM DR40 to allow for high-quality audio recordings. Individuals will be asked to perform two maximal performance speech tasks that include vowel prolongation of /a/, and a Diadochokinetic (DDK) rate task to examine SMR for production of the word "buttercup."

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Florida

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Emily K Plowman, PhD · University of Florida

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

90 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-31

Primary Completion

2025-09-01

Completion

2026-12-31