Clinical Question
Does the presence of a tracheostomy tube impact swallow function?
Critically Appraised Topic
Anecdotally it is thought that the presence of a tracheostomy tube alters swallow function therefore increasing the risk of aspiration. However there is little evidence to support this claim. A thorough literature search and critical appraisal of the evidence aims to determine the impact of a tracheostomy tube on swallow function PDF Format.