Tube feeding predictors after ischemic hemispheric stroke during hospitalization

Abstract

Purpose

To verify the factors associated with the need of tube feeding (TF) during patients post-ischemic stroke hospitalization.

Method

This is a retrospective study with 70 adult post-ischemic hemispheric stroke adult patients hospitalized in the Neurology department at a tertiary public hospital in Santa Catarina, Brazil. We investigated associations between the need of a feeding tube during hospitalization and the variables age, gender, admission and discharge NIHSS and FOIS, length of hospital stay in days, presence of thrombolytic therapy, extensive stroke, hemisphere affected, prior stroke, pneumonia during hospitalization, presence of signs of laryngeal penetration and laryngotracheal aspiration and dysphagia in the first and last swallowing clinical evaluation.

Results

A total of 33 participants used tube feeding. There was a significant relationship among tube feeding and the following parameters: NIHSS (p value .001), FOIS (p value .001), extensive stroke (p value .034), left hemisphere involvement (p value .035), pneumonia during hospitalization (p value .001), length of hospital stay in days (p value .001), signs of laryngotracheal penetration/aspiration (p value .001) and dysphagia in speech-language assessment (p value .001).

Conclusion

Tube feeding during patients hospitalization after ischemic hemispheric stroke was predicted by the severity of stroke and signs of airway permeation.

Key points

1. Swallowing difficulty is one of the most common post-stroke consequences.

2. There are few studies on the characterization of post-stroke patients with tube feeding.

3. Tube feeding after ischemic stroke predictors were severity of stroke and signs of airway permeation.

Keywords:

• Stroke
• swallowing
• dysphagia
• tube feeding
• hospitalization

Author contributions

MFC contributed with the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript; TDP contributed with the analysis, interpretation of data and manuscript revision; CGM contributed with the analysis, interpretation of data and manuscript revision; KFL contributed with study conception, analysis and interpretation of data, writing and review of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marília Fernandes Carollo

Marília Fernandes Carollo, Speech Therapist from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Postgraduate student in Hospital Speech Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience.

Tyalla Duarte Patrício

Tyalla Duarte Patrício is a Speech Therapist from the Universidade do Vale do Itajaí. Currently is Speech Therapist at Hospital Governador Celso Ramos (Santa Catarina/Brazil).

Cristiane Gonçalves Montibeller

Cristiane Gonçalves Montibeller, Speech Therapist graduated from the Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, specialization in Oral Motricity and a master's degree in Neuroscience from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Currently is Speech Therapist and Head of the Speech Therapy Service at Hospital Governador Celso Ramos (Santa Catarina/Brazil).

Karen Fontes Luchesi

Karen Fontes Luchesi, Speech Therapist from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, PhD in Public Health from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Specialist in Dysphagia, currently professor at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.