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

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.