Dysphonia in very preterm children: a review of the evidence

Victoria Reynolds1, Suzanne Meldrum, Karen Simmer

  • 1School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, W.A., Australia.

Neonatology
|May 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants undergoing intubation may face long-term voice problems, known as dysphonia. Female gender, low birth weight, and multiple intubations are associated with increased risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric audiology
  • Laryngology

Background:

  • Endotracheal intubation is crucial for very preterm infants but poses a risk for dysphonia.
  • Preterm children may experience voice disorders later in life due to intubation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing evidence on long-term voice outcomes in preterm children.
  • To identify risk factors associated with dysphonia in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of studies on preterm infants and voice outcomes.
  • Analysis of factors linked to dysphonia in published case studies and series.

Main Results:

  • Limited studies exist, with three larger ones reporting on dysphonia in preterm children.
  • Risk factors for poor voice outcomes include female gender, low birth weight (<1,000 g), and early gestation (<27 weeks).
  • Surgical interventions, emergency/multiple intubations, laryngeal pathology, and supraglottic compression are linked to adverse voice outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Dysphonia is an emerging long-term complication of preterm birth.
  • More research is needed to confirm risk factors and guide future voice treatment studies.
Abstract

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