Ultrasound Study of the Submentonian Musculature and Its Relationship in Dysphagia

Acquired dysphagia is one of the most frequent complications suffered by patients in intensive care units (ICU) after orotracheal extubation. Ultrasound has proven to be a useful method in the morphological and kinematic exploration of the main swallowing structures. AIM: to evaluate, through ultrasound procedures, the evolution of the morphology of the tongue and muscles of the floor of the mouth and the hyolaryngeal kinematics in patients intubated \>48h and to correlate these measurements with the possible development of acquired dysphagia. The incidence of dysphagia and ICU acquired weakness (ICUAW) in subjects with \>48h of intubation and the relative risk factors associated with baseline characteristics and clinical variables will be described. METHODOLOGY: Design: Single-center cohort study (Ramón y Cajal University Hospital). Participants: subjects \>18 years old, admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), with \>48 hours of orotracheal intubation who meet eligibility criteria. Outcomes: the study of socio-demographic and clinical variables related to ICU admission will be included. The physical function variables will be analyzed through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Functional Status Score (FSS), as well as swallowing function variables through the Volume-Viscosity Swallow (VVS-T) and Functional Oral Intake Scale scales. (FOIS) and Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). Measurements will be made of the thickness and echogenicity of the submental and tongue muscles, as well as hyolaryngeal kinematics