Interarytenoid injection outcomes in pediatric feeding disorders

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Type 1 laryngeal clefts (LC1) and deep interarytenoid grooves (DIG) are associated with pediatric feeding disorders.
• Management of these laryngeal anomalies is inconsistent, and interarytenoid injection augmentation (IIA) is not universally applied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of interarytenoid injection augmentation (IIA) in a pediatric cohort.
• To assess the efficacy of IIA, particularly in patients with deep interarytenoid grooves.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of children under 5 years old with feeding difficulties (aspiration, dysphagia, choking).
• Data collected over 7 years (January 2014-October 2021) from 39 patients meeting inclusion criteria.
• Descriptive statistics and subgroup analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• 76.92% of patients experienced clinical improvement post-IIA, with a mean follow-up of 47 days.
• In the deep interarytenoid groove subgroup, improvement rates reached 82.76%.
• No adverse events were reported; no significant associations found between outcomes and covariates.

Conclusions:

• Interarytenoid injection augmentation (IIA) is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric feeding disorders.
• IIA demonstrates particular efficacy in patients diagnosed with deep interarytenoid grooves.
• Further research is warranted to identify predictors of successful IIA outcomes in this population.