Oral Feeding Success

Abstract Aim A primary goal of esophageal atresia repair is to establish esophageal continuity to allow for swallowing of secretions, liquid, and food boluses. The transition to oral feeding and acquisition of oral sensorimotor skills following repair of long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) can be challenging. The timing of attaining full PO status (F-PO), without need for enteral tube feeding support, can vary greatly. A retrospective study was performed to identify predictors of oral feeding success in children with LGEA. Methods A retrospective case series was conducted with chart review of patients with a diagnosis of LGEA who underwent Foker process for staged repair from 2012 to 2017. Children with previous failed attempts at esophageal repair or other significant surgeries were excluded. Comparison was made between patients who achieved full PO status (F-PO) within the study follow-up period (minimum of one year postrepair) and those who did not. Results Twenty-three patients were included: twelve male and eleven female. Eight patients (35%) had an accompanying genetic diagnosis. Thirteen patients (57%) were born prematurely. Six patients (26%) were F-PO at 6 month post-repair; four of which were on an age appropriate diet without restrictions/modifications. Thirteen patients (57%) achieved F-PO by end of the study follow-up period while 43% required supplemental nutrition. Gestational age ≥ 37 weeks (P = 0.03), younger age at first PO trial (P = 0.013), shorter time between Foker 2 and first PO trial (P = 0.011), consistent PO intake at 6 months post-repair (P = 0.02), and fewer total number of airway/esophageal procedures within 1 year post-repair (P = 0.018) were found to be significantly associated with achieving F-PO. Total number of esophageal dilations within 2 years of esophageal repair and presence of a genetic syndrome were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion A majority of patients (57%) who undergo repair of LGEA via Foker process will progress to oral feeding; however, the timing of this progression is variable. Predictors of oral feeding success can be used to guide prognosis and identify patients at greatest need of therapeutic services.

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Mechanisms and management considerations of parent-chosen feeding approaches to infants with swallowing difficulties: an observational study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-99070-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sudarshan R. Jadcherla ◽

Kathryn A. Hasenstab ◽

Erika K. Osborn ◽

Deborah S. Levy ◽

Haluk Ipek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Stay ◽

Growth Velocity ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

High Resolution Manometry ◽

Feeding Difficulties ◽

Feeding Success ◽

Feeding Therapy

AbstractVideofluoroscopy swallow studies (VFSS) and high-resolution manometry (HRM) methods complement to ascertain mechanisms of infant feeding difficulties. We hypothesized that: (a) an integrated approach (study: parent-preferred feeding therapy based on VFSS and HRM) is superior to the standard-of-care (control: provider-prescribed feeding therapy based on VFSS), and (b) motility characteristics are distinct in infants with penetration or aspiration defined as penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) score ≥ 2. Feeding therapies were nipple flow, fluid thickness, or no modification. Clinical outcomes were oral-feeding success (primary), length of hospital stay and growth velocity. Basal and adaptive HRM motility characteristics were analyzed for study infants. Oral feeding success was 85% [76–94%] in study (N = 60) vs. 63% [50–77%] in control (N = 49), p = 0.008. Hospital-stay and growth velocity did not differ between approaches or PAS ≥ 2 (all P > 0.05). In study infants with PAS ≥ 2, motility metrics differed for increased deglutition apnea during interphase (p = 0.02), symptoms with pharyngeal stimulation (p = 0.02) and decreased distal esophageal contractility (p = 0.004) with barium. In conclusion, an integrated approach with parent-preferred therapy based on mechanistic understanding of VFSS and HRM metrics improves oral feeding outcomes despite the evidence of penetration or aspiration. Implementation of new knowledge of physiology of swallowing and airway protection may be contributory to our findings.

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SalivaryFOXP2expression and oral feeding success in premature infants: Table 1.

Molecular Case Studies ◽

10.1101/mcs.a000554 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. a000554 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Emily Zimmerman ◽

Monika Maki ◽

Jill Maron

Keyword(s):

Premature Infants ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Feeding Success

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Non-Nutritive Sucking in the Preterm Infant

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1667289 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (03) ◽

pp. 268-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kelsey Dewey ◽

Amy Jacobsen ◽

Joan Smith ◽

Roberta Pineda

Keyword(s):

Social Factors ◽

Peak Pressure ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Medical Complications ◽

Feeding Success ◽

Nutritive Sucking ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Postmenstrual Age ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Objective To identify the progression of non-nutritive sucking (NNS) across postmenstrual age (PMA) and to investigate the relationship of NNS with medical and social factors and oral feeding. Study Design Fifty preterm infants born at ≤32 weeks gestation had NNS assessed weekly starting at 32 weeks PMA with the NTrainer System. Oral feeding was assessed at 38 weeks PMA. Results There were increases in NNS bursts per minute (p = 0.005), NNS per minute (p < 0.0001), NNS per burst (p < 0.001), and peak pressure (p = 0.0003) with advancing PMA. Level of immaturity and medical complications were related to NNS measures (p < 0.05). NNS measures were not related to Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale scores. Smaller weekly change in NNS peak pressure (p = 0.03; β = –1.4) was related to feeding success at 38 weeks PMA. Conclusion Infants demonstrated NNS early in gestation. Variability in NNS scores could reflect medical complications and immaturity. More stable sucking pressure across time was related to feeding success at 38 weeks PMA.

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The Psychosocial Aspects of Feeding in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Beyond

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_persp-19-00097 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 1507-1515

Author(s):

Lauren L. Madhoun ◽

Robert Dempster

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽

Hospital Discharge ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Medical Attention ◽

Primary Role ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

The Family

Purpose Feeding challenges are common for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While sufficient oral feeding is typically a goal during NICU admission, this can be a long and complicated process for both the infant and the family. Many of the stressors related to feeding persist long after hospital discharge, which results in the parents taking the primary role of navigating the infant's course to ensure continued feeding success. This is in addition to dealing with the psychological impact of having a child requiring increased medical attention and the need to continue to fulfill the demands at home. In this clinical focus article, we examine 3 main areas that impact psychosocial stress among parents with infants in the NICU and following discharge: parenting, feeding, and supports. Implications for speech-language pathologists working with these infants and their families are discussed. A case example is also included to describe the treatment course of an infant and her parents in the NICU and after graduation to demonstrate these points further. Conclusion Speech-language pathologists working with infants in the NICU and following hospital discharge must realize the family context and psychosocial considerations that impact feeding progression. Understanding these factors may improve parental engagement to more effectively tailor treatment approaches to meet the needs of the child and family.

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High Flow Oxygen Therapy and the Pressure to Feed Infants With Acute Respiratory Illness

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-19-00158 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 1006-1010

Author(s):

Jennifer Raminick ◽

Hema Desai

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽

Practice Guidelines ◽

Oxygen Therapy ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

High Flow ◽

Oral Feeding ◽

Respiratory Support ◽

Acute Respiratory Illness ◽

High Flow Oxygen

Purpose Infants hospitalized for an acute respiratory illness often require the use of noninvasive respiratory support during the initial stage to improve their breathing. High flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) is becoming a more popular means of noninvasive respiratory support, often used to treat respiratory syncytial virus/bronchiolitis. These infants present with tachypnea and coughing, resulting in difficulties in coordinating sucking and swallowing. However, they are often allowed to feed orally despite having high respiratory rate, increased work of breathing and on HFOT, placing them at risk for aspiration. Feeding therapists who work with these infants have raised concerns that HFOT creates an additional risk factor for swallowing dysfunction, especially with infants who have compromised airways or other comorbidities. There is emerging literature concluding changes in pharyngeal pressures with HFOT, as well as aspiration in preterm neonates who are on nasal continuous positive airway pressure. However, there is no existing research exploring the effect of HFOT on swallowing in infants with acute respiratory illness. This discussion will present findings from literature on HFOT, oral feeding in the acutely ill infant population, and present clinical practice guidelines for safe feeding during critical care admission for acute respiratory illness. Conclusion Guidelines for safety of oral feeds for infants with acute respiratory illness on HFOT do not exist. However, providers and parents continue to want to provide oral feeds despite clinical signs of respiratory distress and coughing. To address this challenge, we initiated a process change to use clinical bedside evaluation and a “cross-systems approach” to provide recommendations for safer oral feeds while on HFOT as the infant is recovering from illness. Use of standardized feeding evaluation and protocol have improved consistency of practice within our department. However, further research is still necessary to develop clinical practice guidelines for safe oral feeding for infants on HFOT.

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