ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) on extubation time for patients with nasal feeding. Methods One hundred patients with nasal feeding in our department from January 2013 to December 2014 were divided into the observation group and control group randomly with 50 in each group. The control group was treated with education on aspiratioin prevention and the right time for extubation was decided following doctor′s order. SSA was used in the observation group with weekly SSA and swallowing function, then the patients took pertinent functional exercises till a right time for extubation was decided. The two groups were compared in terms of incidences of re-intubation and aspiration pneumonia. Result The observation group had significantly lower incidences of re-intubation and aspiration pneumonia than the control one (P<0.01). Conclusions SSA is used to assess the swallowing function as well as the aspiration risks , which helps patients to take functional exercise and helps nurses to decide the right time for extubation. It can effectively lower the incidences of re-intubation and aspiration pneumonia and improve patients′prognosis.