Effect of Thickened Feeds on Swallow Physiology in Children With Dysphagia
Boston Children's Hospital
Summary
This study will examine the effects of varying liquid viscosity on swallow physiology in infants with oropharyngeal dysphagia and brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) and other children with dysphagia that would be at risk for symptoms of swallow dysfunction.
Description
Infants with oropharyngeal dysphagia and in particular brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE) are a significant driver of pediatric health care expenditure since the mechanism for their swallow dysfunction is incompletely understood and therefore frequently goes unrecognized and untreated. We hypothesize that infants with oropharyngeal dysphagia and BRUE have measurable differences in swallowing physiology to explain their symptoms of cyanotic choking spells, that these differences can be quantified using pharyngeal high resolution impedance-manometry compared to videofluoroscopic swallow st…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Up to 21 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 0 to 21 years * Admitted to Boston Children's Hospital after experiencing first lifetime BRUE, or with dysphagia symptoms such that they would be at risk for BRUE or other symptoms of swallowing difficulty * Have had videofluoroscopic swallow study performed or might have future videofluoroscopic swallow study performed. Exclusion Criteria: * Any pre-existing medical diagnoses that exclude brief resolved unexplained event diagnosis including seizure disorders and cyanotic congenital heart disease * Any nasal/pharyngeal/esophageal anomalies that might affect safe pl…
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementThin liquid swallows
Thin liquid swallows of formula or breastmilk or other liquid
- Dietary SupplementSlightly thickened liquid swallows
Slightly thick liquid swallows of formula thickened with rice cereal or breastmilk or other liquid thickened with Gelmix
- Dietary SupplementMildly thickened liquid swallows
Mildly thick liquid swallows of formula thickened with rice cereal or breastmilk or other liquid thickened with Gelmix
- Dietary SupplementModerately thickened liquid swallows
Moderately thick liquid swallows of formula thickened with rice cereal or breastmilk or other liquid thickened with Gelmix
Location
- Boston Children's HospitalBoston, Massachusetts