Feeding difficulties in craniofacial microsomia: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Genetics and Developmental Biology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is associated with increased risks of obstructive sleep apnoea and feeding difficulties.
• Understanding feeding issues in CFM is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the prevalence, treatment, and follow-up of feeding difficulties in children with craniofacial microsomia (CFM).

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.
• Data extraction included patient characteristics, feeding difficulty presence, treatment, and outcomes from eight included articles.

Main Results:

• Feeding difficulties affect a significant portion of children with CFM, with reported prevalence ranging from 42-83% in two studies.
• Tube feeding was the predominant treatment reported for feeding difficulties.
• Limited information was available on the follow-up of feeding difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Feeding difficulties are clearly related to craniofacial microsomia.
• Current literature lacks prospective studies and objective measurements, preventing definitive conclusions.
• Prospective research is essential to accurately determine the prevalence and outcomes of feeding difficulties in CFM.