- Patients selection, inclusion and procedure: All successive patients admitted to the medical or surgical ICU, and intubated by the orotracheal route for >6 days, will be prospectively enrolled when extubation will be decided. Patients with previous swallowing disorders, ENT surgery or chronic persistent vegetative status will not be included. All patients will have to fulfill the usual criteria for extubation. Then, before extubation, the different components of swallowing functions will be evaluated by the trained physiotherapist, using a bedside pre-extubation scale based on 3 tests: assessment of 1)- cervical, oral, labial and lingual motricity; 2)- the gag reflex; and 3)- swallowing. After extubation, the ability to cough and swallow, secretion volume, and the need for suctioning will be evaluated immediately, then at 24, 48 and 72 hours.