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NCT Number: NCT05304416

Clinical Markers of Dysphagia in Cardiac Surgical Patients

Although dysphagia is a known complication of cardiac surgery, risk factors and sensitive bedside clinical markers of dysphagia have not yet been identified. This longitudinal study will enroll 380 cardiac surgical patients and identify contributing risk factors of incident cases of dysphagia and identify sensitive bedside markers of dysphagia. Statistical modeling will produce two pragmatic clinical tools - a risk prediction model and a beside screening tool to improve care models.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States

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About this study

Swallowing impairment and VFMI are common, yet often overlooked, complications of cardiovascular surgical procedures. The true incidence of both dysphagia and VFMI in this patient population is unclear due to a lack of rigorous study using instrumental assessment techniques and validated outcomes in all patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The study is therefore aimed to determine the incidence of dysphagia and VFMI in this patient population and to characterize impairment profiles related to swallowing safety and efficiency. In addition, the study is also aimed to assess the relative impact of VFMI and dysphagia on health-related outcomes such as length of hospital stay, pneumonia, sepsis, reintubation, and discharge status. The study will identify risk factors for postoperative dysphagia and VFMI in cardiovascular patients to build a practical electronic risk-stratification tool. The study will also aim to identify sensitive bedside clinical markers of dysphagia in postoperative cardiovascular patients to develop a bedside screening tool. All participants with planned surgeries will undergo two research visits (one preoperatively and one postoperatively) where they will undergo an instrumental swallowing test and complete several patient report outcomes and clinical tests. If they are found to have dysphagia after surgery, they will be offered no-cost follow-up swallow tests at months 1 and 6. For those without planned surgeries, the same course of tests with the exception of the preoperative research visit will be completed. Finally, health-related outcomes will be indexed in enrolled participants to determine the impact of dysphagia.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals 18-90 years of age
  • Undergoing planned or emergent cardiothoracic surgery via sternotomy and/or extended thoracotomy at the University of Florida Heart and Vascular Hospital
  • Not pregnant
  • Willing to participate in research exams.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women
  • Those unwilling to participate in research exams.

Treatment and study plan

fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing

Diagnostic Test

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.

Other names: FEES

Simultaneous FEES and Videofluoroscopy instrumental swallowing exam

Diagnostic Test

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 a moving x-ray of the participant swallowing foods and liquids (barium).

Other names: Endofluoroscopy

Videofluoroscopy instrumental swallowing exam (VFSS)

Diagnostic Test

This is like a moving x-ray of the participant swallowing foods and liquids (barium).

Other names: Modified barium swallow study

Voluntary Cough Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) Testing

Other

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.

Reflex Cough Screen

Other

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.

Lingual Pressure Testing

Other

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.

Speech testing

Diagnostic Test

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."

Primary outcomes

  1. Penetration Aspiration Scale

    Time frame: Baseline (Prior to surgery)

    This scale is a validated measure used by trained blinded clinicians to assign ratings of safety to swallowing bolus trials. The development and use of an 8-point, equal-appearing interval scale (8 being best; 1 being worst) to describe penetration and aspiration events are described. Scores are determined primarily by the depth to which material passes in the airway and by whether or not material entering the airway is expelled. (Simultaneous or FEES exam)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Penetration Aspiration Scale

    Time frame: Follow-up - Within 72 hours following extubation from surgery and onward

    This scale is a validated measure used by trained blinded clinicians to assign ratings of safety to swallowing bolus trials. The development and use of an 8-point, equal-appearing interval scale (8 being best; 1 being worst) to describe penetration and aspiration events are described. Scores are determined primarily by the depth to which material passes in the airway and by whether or not material entering the airway is expelled. (Used in Simultaneous, FEES, or VFSS)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Florida

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Ohio State University

Registry information

Official study title

Mechanisms, Predictors & Clinical Markers of Dysphagia in Cardiac Surgical Patients_R01

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 31, 2022
Registry last updated
Oct 14, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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