Document Type : original article
Authors
1 Senior Speech Language Pathologist & Dysphagia Specialist, Inpatient Team lead, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)
2 Consultant Neonatologist and Chair of Neonatology Division, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)
Abstract
Background
Establishing oral feeding in preterm babies are challenging in Neonatal Intensive Care unit. Literature shows more than 70% of babies born as preterm have oral feeding difficulties and 40% of these babies have penetration or aspiration risk with initiation of oral feeds.
Objective of the study
The aim of the study was to identify number of preterm babies referred for swallowing assessment in NICU along with the percentage of preterm babies who needed Videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing along with its findings between 2020 and 2021.In addition the study also aimed to determine percentage of readmission of preterm babies within 3 months of discharge from NICU for aspiration or other oral feeding concerns from 2020 to 2021.
Methodology
This is a retrospective study done for two years from 2020 to 2021.
Results
5.4% of babies referred to SLP services needed Videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing as clinical bedside swallow assessment indicated penetration/aspiration risk. The VFSS in 3/18 babies had silent aspiration even with safe feeding strategies thereby was recommended to continue enteral feeding for nutritional needs. 44.4% of preterm and full term babies in NICU had penetrations on oral feeding on regular feeding devises thereby needed specialized slow flow nipples.
Conclusion
The study concluded that feeding related complications and aspiration in preterm term infants while in the NICU can be minimized with the oral feeding rehabilitation provided by the SLP from 33 weeks of corrected gestation age as well as this reduces the readmission rate of these babies to hospital in turn reducing the hospital cost.
Keywords
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