Deep laryngeal penetration as a predictor of aspiration

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Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Review of Ultrasound Parameters for Predicting Difficult Airways
08:21

Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Review of Ultrasound Parameters for Predicting Difficult Airways

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B Friedman1, J B Frazier

  • 1Occupational Therapy Department, The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado 80218, USA.

Dysphagia
|June 6, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Laryngeal penetration, a swallowing issue, affects 60% of pediatric patients with dysphagia. Deep penetration strongly correlates with aspiration, indicating a significant risk in children with swallowing difficulties.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Otolaryngology
  • Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

  • Laryngeal penetration is often overlooked as a distinct event from aspiration.
  • It is considered infrequent in adults without swallowing disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of laryngeal penetration in pediatric patients with dysphagia.
  • To explore the relationship between laryngeal penetration and aspiration in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 125 pediatric patients (7 days to 19 years) with dysphagia.
  • Analysis of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) to identify laryngeal penetration and aspiration.
  • Correlation analysis between deep laryngeal penetration and aspiration events.

Main Results:

  • Laryngeal penetration was identified in 60% of the study group.
  • Deep laryngeal penetration occurred in 31% of patients.
  • 85% of children with deep laryngeal penetration also aspirated, indicating a strong association.

Conclusions:

  • Laryngeal penetration is a common occurrence in children with dysphagia.
  • Deep laryngeal penetration is a significant risk factor for aspiration in pediatric patients.
  • Extended feeding protocols during VFSS may be a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying penetration and aspiration risks.

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