International　Session

BackgroundDysphagia is a clinically significant sequela of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in survivors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission.It is associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, prolonged rehabilitation, and reduced quality of life.However, the prevalence and clinical determinants of dysphagia i n t h i s p o p u l a t i o n r e m a i n i n s u f f i c i e n t l y characterized.This study aims to assess the prevalence of dysphagia among ICU survivors and to identify contributing factors to inform the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t a r g e t e d s c r e e n i n g a n d intervention strategies.Methods This prospective observational study was conducted from January 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.A total of 38 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours in t h e i n t e n s i v e c a r e u n i t ( I C U ) a n d w e r e subsequently transferred to a step-down ICU were included.Swallowing function was assessed within 3 days after ICU transfer using either videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), performed by rehabilitation physician.Result Among 38 ICU survivors, dysphagia was identified in 35 patients (92.1%), with severity classified as mild (18.4%), moderate (18.4%), and severe (55.3%).Pharyngeal phase involvement was observed in 89.5% of cases.The mean age was 64.7 18.1 years.Median ICU stay was 22.0 days , and median duration of mechanical v e n t i l a t i o n w a s 2 0 .0 d a y s ( I Q R 7 .5 -3 4 .0 ) .Swallowing function was assessed within a median of 2 days (range 0-6) after ICU discharge using FEES in 31 patients (81.6%) and VFSS in 7 (18.4%).Swallowing rehabilitation was provided in 92.1% of patients, with a median duration of 7.8 days .At 2-week follow-up, 77.1% had resumed oral intake, while 14.3% remained dependent on enteral nutrition.Conclusion Dysphagia was highly prevalent among ICU survivors who received prolonged mechanical ventilation.Early assessment using FEES or VFSS and prompt initiation of swallowing rehabilitation were feasible even in patients with high oxygen demand or delirium.Notably, the majority of patients showed improvement in swallowing function within two weeks, with a substantial proportion successfully resuming oral intake.These findings highlight the importance of early dysphagia screening and intervention in the post-ICU period to improve functional recovery and nutritional outcomes in this high-risk population.