| Objective: To explore the factors influencing swallowing outcome in patients with disorders of consciousness patients with tracheostomy. Methods: This retrospective study collected clinical data of disorder of consciousness patients with tracheostomy. The data included demographic characteristics at admission, CRS-R scores, GCS scores, modified Evans blue dye test, duration of tracheostomy and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) at admission. Follow-up was conducted at 1 year to collect tracheostomy decannulation status, GCS scores and FOIS scores. A total of 141 patients with disorder of consciousness were included in this study and the data of 138 participants were included in the final analysis. Based on the FOIS scores at one year of follow-up, the patients were divided into two groups: poor swallowing function group (FOIS levels 1-3) with 71 cases and good swallowing function group (FOIS levels 4-7) with 70 cases. Logistic regression analysis was employed to the correlation between various factors and the recovery of swallowing function. Results: The decannulation rate was higher in the good swallowing function group than in the poor swallowing function group (P<0.01), and the proportion of patients with a GCS score ≥8 was higher in the good swallowing function group than the poor swallowing function group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that dye test results, tracheostomy decannulation within 1 year, and GCS scores at 1 year significantly influenced the recovery of swallowing function recovery at 1 year (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Factors associated with better swallowing function recovery in disorder of consciousness patients with tracheostomy due to severe brain injury include initial modified dye test results, decannulation within 1 year, and GCS scores at 1 year. |
