OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the swallowing function on tracheostomized patients in the ICU of Pulmonology. CASE REPORT: 10 medical records has been analysed, being 6 male and 4 female, with age around 55 years. 50% (5) with COPD, 10% (1) with tuberculosis, 10% (1) com pneumonectomy, 10% (1) with myasthenia gravis (MG), 1 (10%) with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 1 (10%) with AIDS. All patients were tracheostomized. The estructural evaluation of the oral motor sensory system was abnormal in MG and ARDS. 5, 10 and 20 ml of pasty, thickened liquid and non-thickened liquid has been offered. On the patients with COPD and AIDS, it was necessary to maintain the cuff inflated due to decrease of saturation. These patients were not dysphagic and oral feeding with non-thickened liquid and pasty was allowed on the second day of treatment. In two of the patients with dysphagia (MG and AIDS) direct and indirect therapy was necessary, with an average of 15 sessions for allowing the oral feeding with the cuff inflated. In the pneumonectomy patient, the oral feeding was allowed with the use of Passy-Muir speaking valve after three days of therapy. CONCLUSION: Prolonged OTI and tracheostomy are common in the treatment of many pulmonary diseases. In patients with difficulties on ventilation weaning and deflation of the cuff, the swallowing evaluation is necessary for verifying the ideal and safe requirements to feed these patients while in the fan or outside, always with inflated cuff, improving life quality and aiding their recovery.
