A Literature Review of Feeding Disorders in Children with Tracheostomies and Ventilators.

Feeding disorders and gastrostomy use are highly prevalent in children with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) due to both common risk factors (eg, prematurity, neurological disorders) and resultant experiential deprivation (eg, long hospitalizations, delayed feeding experiences). Feeding in children with IMV is complicated by the presence of a tracheostomy, lung vulnerability, and medical complexity. The potential comorbidity of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) and atypical early feeding experiences can result in complex feeding disorders.

Airway obstruction and inflammation on combined bronchoscopy in children with Down syndrome.

Objective: To characterize the upper and lower airway findings in children with Down syndrome and chronic respiratory symptoms, based on evaluation by flexible bronchoscopy (FB) with bronchoalveolar lavage and microlaryngoscopy with bronchoscopy (MLB).

Study Design: A retrospective review was conducted of children with Down syndrome aged 1 month to 17 years, who underwent both FB and MLB within a 1-year timeframe between 2010 and 2019 at Children's Hospital Colorado. Anatomic airway findings are reported as frequencies within the cohort.

Validation of the Childhood Dysphagia Management Scale (CDMS): An Impact Scale for determining medical home for dysphagia.

Background: The results and recommendations from instrumental assessments of swallowing do not, by themselves, provide guidance regarding the type of medical management that might be needed for the pediatric patient with dysphagia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Childhood Dysphagia Management Scale (CDMS), a clinical scale developed to estimate the impact of dysphagia and determine the need for a multidisciplinary medical home to manage dysphagia.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study implemented in three phases to evaluate validity and reliability of the CDMS.

Associations between age, respiratory comorbidities, and dysphagia in infants with down syndrome.

Objectives: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a high risk of dysphagia and the pediatric pulmonologist may be involved in diagnosis and management. The objective of this study is to evaluate the associations between age, dysphagia, and medical comorbidities in young children with DS. We hypothesized that swallow study findings are more likely to change in younger infants and that medical comorbidities may be associated with dysphagia.

Understanding the Viscosity of Liquids used in Infant Dysphagia Management.

When assessing swallowing in infants, it is critical to have confidence that the liquids presented during the swallow study closely replicate the viscosity of liquids in the infant's typical diet. However, we lack research on rheological properties of frequently used infant formulas or breastmilk, and various forms of barium contrast media used in swallow studies. The aim of the current study was to provide objective viscosity measurements for typical infant liquid diet options and barium contrast media.

Clinical Characteristics of Dysphagia in Children with Down Syndrome.

Aspiration is an often unrecognized comorbidity in children with Down syndrome with serious medical consequences. This retrospective chart review of swallow study reports characterizes oral and pharyngeal phase dysphagia and diet modifications on videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) in a large cohort of children with Down syndrome. A total of 158 pediatric patients (male = 95; female = 63; mean age 2.