Ulrike Frank

Die Behandlung tracheotomierter Patienten mit schwerer Dysphagie

Eine explorative Studie zur Evaluation eines interdisziplinären Interventionsansatzes



ISBN: 978-3-940793-55-3
232 pages
Release year 2008

9,50 

In neurological rehabilitation there is a growing need for information about treatment of tracheotomized dysphagic individuals and treatment methods have to be evaluated objectively. This dissertation presents a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of tracheotomized dysphagic patients that was developed based on research findings and clinical experiences. Furthermore it presents a first approach to a systematic evaluation of a multidisciplinary treatment protocol and explorative data about the rehabilitative progress in this patient group. In a retrospective analysis mean cannulation times and the success rate of decannulation from patients were compared before and after introduction of the multidisciplinary procedure in a rehabilitation centre, REHAB Basel, Switzerland. Furthermore, the rehabilitation progress was analyzed by means of the assessment tools ‘Functional Independence Measure (FIM)’ and ‘Early Functional Abilities (EFA)’. Decannulation rates and success of decannulation were comparable in both groups of patients. With regard to mean cannulation times, however, a significant reduction was found in the group who underwent multidisciplinary treatment. This indicates a higher efficiency of the multidisciplinary approach, whereas, with regard to effectiveness, the two approaches seem to be comparable. After decannulation the patients of the multidisciplinary group showed clear functional improvements in performing activities of daily living. Most of these patients were able to return to full oral nutrition after decannulation. The multidisciplinary approach was found to be more efficient than the former intradisciplinary protocol as it led to a safe but faster decannulation of tracheotomized dysphagic patients. The explorative data concerning rehabilitation progress in these patients supports the importance of the development of evidence-based treatment protocols that lead to a fast and safe decannulation. This can be considered the basis for further significant improvement of the functional independence of the tracheotomized dysphagic patient.

In neurological rehabilitation there is a growing need for information about treatment of tracheotomized dysphagic individuals and treatment methods have to be evaluated objectively. This dissertation presents a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of tracheotomized dysphagic patients that was developed based on research findings and clinical experiences. Furthermore it presents a first approach to a systematic evaluation of a multidisciplinary treatment protocol and explorative data about the rehabilitative progress in this patient group. In a retrospective analysis mean cannulation times and the success rate of decannulation from patients were compared before and after introduction of the multidisciplinary procedure in a rehabilitation centre, REHAB Basel, Switzerland. Furthermore, the rehabilitation progress was analyzed by means of the assessment tools ‘Functional Independence Measure (FIM)’ and ‘Early Functional Abilities (EFA)’. Decannulation rates and success of decannulation were comparable in both groups of patients. With regard to mean cannulation times, however, a significant reduction was found in the group who underwent multidisciplinary treatment. This indicates a higher efficiency of the multidisciplinary approach, whereas, with regard to effectiveness, the two approaches seem to be comparable. After decannulation the patients of the multidisciplinary group showed clear functional improvements in performing activities of daily living. Most of these patients were able to return to full oral nutrition after decannulation. The multidisciplinary approach was found to be more efficient than the former intradisciplinary protocol as it led to a safe but faster decannulation of tracheotomized dysphagic patients. The explorative data concerning rehabilitation progress in these patients supports the importance of the development of evidence-based treatment protocols that lead to a fast and safe decannulation. This can be considered the basis for further significant improvement of the functional independence of the tracheotomized dysphagic patient.