Dysphagia in COVID-19 Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are infrequently nourished via oral feeding due to aspiration risks. Patients with COVID-19 and on ECMO represent a subpopulation that has additional factors that may affect their swallow function. This study aimed to describe the swallow function and ability to maintain oral feeding in patients with COVID-19 while on ECMO. A retrospective study of patients with COVID-19 who started veno-venous ECMO at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 and August 2020) was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Clinical swallow evaluations and videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were analyzed using standardized measurement scales. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) identified relationships between ECMO and swallowing function at different time points. 19 patients were included; all underwent clinical swallow evaluation and 4 underwent VFSS while on ECMO. Mean age was 43.2 years (standard deviation: 9.2), mean duration of ECMO was 65.7 days (58.7), and mean duration of intubation was 14.4 days (8.6). All patients were able to undergo swallow function evaluation, regain swallow function, and resume oral feeding while cannulated. Duration of ECMO and time to feeding tube removal was positively correlated (r = 0.747, p < 0.001) with patients demonstrating less functional swallowing independence and requiring a more modified diet upon oral diet initiation. Clinical swallow evaluation and videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluation are possible for COVID-19 patients actively on ECMO. Patient swallow function can improve, and oral diet can be achieved while on ECMO, demonstrating benefit of SLP surveillance and swallowing assessment prior to ECMO decannulation.