An audit of perioperative speech pathology intervention on improving enhanced recovery after surgery in oesophagectomy patients

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Purpose To evaluate the impact of a speech-language pathology (SLP) pathway on recovery following oesophagectomy. Method An audit was conducted at a single metropolitan public hospital in Sydney, Australia. Patients between 2014–2021 undergoing a three-stage oesophagectomy (n = 41) were included in the study. The sample was divided into two groups, those who received usual care (2014–2019) and those who received perioperative SLP assessment and intervention (2020–2021), with data collected across swallowing and health outcomes. Patient demographics and outcomes between the two groups were compared. Result Patients who received perioperative SLP intervention commenced oral intake faster postoperatively (SLP intervention group Mdn = 6.50 days, IQR = 6.00–7.00; usual care group Mdn = 9.00 days, IQR = 7.00–13.25; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in rates of aspiration on the postoperative leak test (p = 0.32). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in length of hospital stay or number of swallowing-related medical images completed during their admission. Conclusion Perioperative SLP intervention has a positive impact on commencing oral intake following a three-stage oesophagectomy, however, it does not have a significant impact on rates of aspiration postoperatively. This pathway may contribute to enhanced recovery after oesophagectomy.