Hassan A, Shah S, Bustamante N, et al.
Cureus. 2025;17(6):e86640. doi:10.7759/cureus.86640
This case report describes a patient in his 60s who developed severe critical illness dysphagia (CID) following ICU admission for fluid overload complicated by cardiac arrest, mechanical ventilation, and sepsis. After extubation, he was found to have profound pharyngeal dysphagia with silent aspiration confirmed via FEES and VFSS. Despite initial deterioration, structured multidisciplinary therapy involving gastroenterology, neurology, endocrinology, speech therapy, and dietetics led to progressive improvement. He was ultimately able to transition from nasogastric feeding to safe oral intake on an IDDSI level 2–3 diet. This case underscores the complex, multifactorial nature of CID and highlights the importance of early diagnosis, instrumental swallowing assessments, and coordinated care to restore functional swallowing and avoid long-term enteral feeding.
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Thank you to Cureus for publishing this important case report and for supporting open access to clinical education.