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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Published in:The Laryngoscope Vol. 129; no. 11; pp. 2614 - 2618
Main Authors: Pavithran, Jayanthy, Puthiyottil, Indu Vadakke, Narayan, Mythili, Vidhyadharan, Sivakumar, Menon, Jayakumar R., Iyer, Subramania
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-11-2019
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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
Bibliography:The study has been conducted by conforming to the Declaration of Helzinki standards. The present study was an extension of a study on pediatric patients approved by institutional review board (IRB‐AIMS‐2017‐137).
The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
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ISSN:0023-852X
1531-4995
DOI:10.1002/lary.27654