TY - JOUR T1 - The Effect of Speaking Valves on ICU Mobility of Individuals With Tracheostomy JF - Respiratory Care SP - 144 LP - 149 DO - 10.4187/respcare.06768 VL - 65 IS - 2 AU - Camila Ceron AU - Danielle Otto AU - Alana Verza Signorini AU - Marco Colomé Beck AU - Marcio Camilis AU - Daniel Sganzerla AU - Régis Goulart Rosa AU - Cassiano Teixeira Y1 - 2020/02/01 UR - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/65/2/144.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND: Early mobilization is part of the rehabilitation process for critically ill patients and is currently considered a means of preventing ICU-acquired muscle deterioration and worsening of physical function. We sought to determine whether the use of speaking valves in tracheostomized patients would improve their mobility. We evaluated the changes in mobility performance with the use of speaking valves in tracheostomized subjects.METHODS: We performed a cohort study of a series of subjects who were tracheostomized and were being weaned from mechanical ventilation between April 2016 and May 2018. The subjects were those able to tolerate a speaking valve for a minimum of 30 min. Demographic data, comorbidities, cause of ICU admission, days in the ICU, duration of mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy, and days free from mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy were collected. Mobility status was evaluated using daily measurements of the Perme Intensive Care Unit Mobility Score.RESULTS: During the study period, 63 patients were tracheostomized. Patients with deficiencies in language (n = 2) or cognitive deficits (n = 36) and patients in exclusive palliative care (n = 7) were excluded. Eighteen subjects were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 64.6 ± 14.2 y (55.5% were male), and the most common reason for ICU admission was pneumonia (n = 7; 38.8%). Perme scores increased from 11.3 (interquartile range 10.1–12.0) on the day before initiation of the speaking valve to 18.2 (IQR 16.2–20.1) immediately after the initiation of a speaking valve (P < .01). These changes were maintained during all periods of speaking valve use.CONCLUSIONS: The use of speaking valves in tracheostomized subjects improved mobility. ER -