Effect of a one-way tracheotomy speaking valve on the incidence of aspiration in previously aspirating patients with tracheotomy

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the incidence of aspira tion in previously aspirating patients with tracheotomy after use of a one- way tracheotomy tube speaking valve. Twenty consecutive inpatients from the acute care setting of a large urban tertiary care teaching hospital were i ncluded. All subjects had objective documentation of aspiration by a fibero ptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing prior to placement of a one-way tr acheotomy speaking valve, from 2 to 7 days of valve use with intelligible s peech production, and no surgery to the upper aerodigestive tract except tr acheotomy. Results indicated that incidence of aspiration was not affected by use of a one-way tracheotomy speaking valve. These results are in agreem ent with previous observations that subjects either aspirated or swallowed successfully regardless of tracheotomy tube occlusion status. Also, no sign ificant differences were found between aspiration status and time since tra cheotomy, time off ventilator, or duration of valve use, It was concluded t hat use of a one-way speaking valve provided mostly nondeglutitive benefits and should not be considered to promote successful swallowing for patients with tracheotomy in the acute care setting.