[Dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy--fiberoptic-endoscopic findings]

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is associated frequently with swallowing disorders. By means of fiberoptic endoscopy, pathological findings in dysphagic patients with CP have been intended to be described, to be quantified, and to be related to selected anamnestic aspects.

Swallowing competency has been analysed endoscopically in 54 patients with spastic tetraparesis (range of age: 3 months to 15 years and 11 months).

Over 60% of all patients examined endoscopically showed deficits in terms of penetration (24%) or aspiration (39%) of saliva. Two-thirds of the patients who have been tested with food had a penetration or aspiration of food, more than half of them without airway protection by cough reflex. Patients who have been fed orally before examination reported aspirations of food for 40%. Interestingly, about 40% of the children without history of pneumonia had aspirations of saliva and food. Drooling phenomena where associated with aspirations of saliva in 54% and with aspiration of food in 53% of our patients.

Fiberoptic endoscopy is useful to detect a potentially dangerous penetration or aspiration of saliva, secretions and food. Thereby it enables the physician to change airway and feeding management. This is of special importance as children who formerly have been fed orally without suspicion of risks and pneumonia anamnesis turned out to have severe swallowing deficits. A close connection between appearance of drooling phenomena and aspiration of saliva and food has also to be considered in children with CP.