Dysphagia Status
Dysphagia status is shown in Table 2. Postoperative NPO time trended
higher in the cohort undergoing FEES but did not differ significantly
between groups (175.2 ± 185.3 vs 50.5 ± 67.7 hours, P =
0.16). Half of the LVAD patients were consulted by a SLP. While SLP
consultation was similar between FEES and matched control cohorts
(66.7% vs 41.7%, P = 0.62), all four patients who
underwent a barium swallow study were in the FEES cohort (66.7%vs 0%, P = 0.005). Time to swallow trended towards
shorter times in the FEES group (8.0 ± 6.2 vs 28.4 ± 14.5 days,P = 0.06). The detected incidence of dysphagia was significantly
greater in the FEES cohort compared to matched controls (66.7%vs 0%, P < 0. 001). Of the six patients
that underwent FEES, four were determined to be dysphagic; severity
ranged from mild (N = 2) to moderate (N = 1) to severe
(N = 1). Dysphagia status and severity was not noted in any of
the matched control patients, as these statuses were dependent on either
FEES or MBS.