Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing in children: feeding outcomes related to diagnostic groups and endoscopic findings.

Objective: Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is used as an adjunct to assess swallowing function in children with complex feeding disorders. We report the feeding outcomes of patients who underwent FEES to determine whether associations exist between clinical diagnoses or FEES findings and feeding outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective review of children who underwent FEES for dysphagia or aspiration from 2003 to 2009. The clinical diagnoses and initial FEES findings were compared to follow up feeding status for associations.

Results: 79 patients were included (44 males and 35 females). The change from initial to final status: total oral feeding (42-67%), NPO ± minimal tastes (39-21%) and oral feeding with tube feeding (19-12%). Of the clinical diagnoses, tonsillar hypertrophy was associated with ultimately obtaining total oral feeding status (p = 0.046) while the inability to obtain total oral feeding status was associated with neurologic (p < 0.001). The initial FEES findings showed no significant associations with long-term feeding status.

Conclusion: Many children overcome their dysphagia but those with neurologic disorders are less likely to achieve total oral feeding status. In children with dysphagia evaluated by FEES, the long-term feeding status is not significantly associated with the initial FEES findings.