Observations from a pediatric dysphagia clinic: Characteristics of children at risk of aspiration pneumonia

Objectives The clinical variables that are predictive of aspiration pneumonia are not clear in the pediatric population. This study was conducted in order to identify the demographic, clinical, and radiological risk factors for the development of aspiration pneumonia in children referred to the dysp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Laryngoscope 2019-11, Vol.129 (11), p.2614-2618
Main Authors: Pavithran, Jayanthy, Puthiyottil, Indu Vadakke, Narayan, Mythili, Vidhyadharan, Sivakumar, Menon, Jayakumar R., Iyer, Subramania
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child
Child, Preschool
Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders - complications
Deglutition Disorders - diagnostic imaging
Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology
Dysphagia
Esophageal Motility Disorders - complications
Esophageal Motility Disorders - diagnostic imaging
Esophageal Motility Disorders - physiopathology
feeding
Female
Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastroesophageal Reflux - complications
Gastroesophageal Reflux - diagnostic imaging
Gastroesophageal Reflux - physiopathology
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pediatrics
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Aspiration - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Aspiration - etiology
Radiography - statistics & numerical data
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
swallowing
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Summary:Objectives The clinical variables that are predictive of aspiration pneumonia are not clear in the pediatric population. This study was conducted in order to identify the demographic, clinical, and radiological risk factors for the development of aspiration pneumonia in children referred to the dysphagia clinic. Methods A retrospective analysis of medical records of 88 children referred to the dysphagia clinic who had undergone videofluroscopic swallow study (VFSS). Results Oropharyngeal dysphagia was found in 61.3% (54 of 88). Incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 39.8% (35 of 88). Conclusion Respiratory symptoms such as cough, choking, excessive secretions, and pharyngeal dysmotility other than aspiration in VFSS were not predictors of pneumonia. Infants and children with laryngotracheal anomalies, demonstrable aspiration in VFSS, and major cardiac illness are at risk of presenting with aspiration pneumonia. Whether gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or esophageal dysmotility are causative of aspiration in the rest of the population needs to be investigated by future prospective studies. Level of Evidence 3b. Laryngoscope, 129:2614–2618, 2019
ISSN:0023-852X
1531-4995
DOI:10.1002/lary.27654