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Dysphagia in infants after open heart procedures
Sook-Hee Yi1, Sang-Jun Kim, June Huh
1Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|March 13, 2013
Summary
Open heart surgery in infants can lead to dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) in 24% of cases. Early detection of risk factors and swallowing problems is crucial for better infant care and shorter hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Swallowing Disorders
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Infants undergoing open heart procedures are at risk for developing postoperative complications.
- Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a potential complication that can impact infant feeding and recovery.
- Understanding the prevalence and predictors of dysphagia is essential for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of dysphagia in infants following open heart surgery.
- To identify clinical predictors associated with dysphagia in this population.
- To characterize videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) findings in infants with postsurgical dysphagia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 146 infants who underwent open heart surgery.
- Comparison of infants with and without dysphagia based on clinical factors.
- Evaluation of VFSS findings in infants diagnosed with dysphagia.
Main Results:
- Dysphagia was present in 35 (24.0%) of the 146 infants.
- Infants with dysphagia had lower body weight, more malformation syndromes, and longer/more complex operations.
- VFSS revealed abnormalities in 97% of affected infants, with 63.6% exhibiting tracheal aspiration.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of dysphagia and aspiration in infants post-open heart surgery necessitates vigilant monitoring.
- Prompt recognition of dysphagia signs and risk factors can significantly improve infant feeding outcomes.
- Early intervention may reduce hospital stay duration and enhance overall infant care.
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