Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
Parents caring and sham-feeding their child born with Esophageal atresia at home while waiting for reconstructive
AnnaMaria Tollne1, Elin Öst1,2, Tuva Nilsson1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Sham-feeding at home for infants with Esophageal atresia is a safe and feasible method to improve oro-motor function and reduce hospital stays before reconstructive surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Esophageal atresia requires reconstructive surgery, often involving prolonged hospital stays.
- Delayed oral feeding and limited oro-motor training are common challenges for these infants.
- Current management necessitates improved strategies for pre-operative care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of home-based sham-feeding for infants with Esophageal atresia awaiting surgery.
- To describe patient characteristics and any adverse events associated with this approach.
- To assess the impact of home sham-feeding on post-operative oral feeding outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, single-center descriptive study.
- Inclusion of infants with Esophageal atresia undergoing delayed reconstructive surgery.
- Data collected on home sham-feeding practices, duration, and adverse events from January 2010 to January 2023.
Main Results:
- Nine infants were included, with a median home sham-feeding duration of 72 days.
- No adverse events were reported during the home sham-feeding period.
- Post-surgery, 5 infants achieved full oral feeding within 8-27 days; 2 within a year.
Conclusions:
- Home-based sham-feeding is a safe and viable intervention for infants with Esophageal atresia.
- This method allows for extended time outside the hospital prior to reconstructive surgery.
- It potentially facilitates improved oro-motor function and earlier oral feeding post-operatively.
Purpose:
For children with Esophageal atresia who have to wait for reconstructive surgery, long hospital stay, delayed introduction of oral feeds and hampered oro-motor function has traditionally been draw-backs for this treatment as the patients have minimal training of oro-motor function while waiting for surgery. In this paper, we present the concept of sham-feed at home awaiting reconstructive surgery with the aim to obliviate these problems. The aim was to describe the characteristics of patients with Esophageal atresia waiting for reconstructive surgery sham-feeding at home by their parents and further describe adverse events that arose.
Methods:
The study is a retrospective descriptive single center study on all children with a delayed reconstruction of Esophageal atresia who was sham-fed by their parents at home before reconstructive surgery between January 2010 and January 2023 at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm.
Results:
Nine patients where home waiting for reconstructive surgery for a median of 72 days. No adverse events were reported related to the sham-feed procedure at home. The children had reconstructive surgery at a median 120 days of age. Five of the children ate full meals orally day 8-27 after surgery. Two children ate fully before 1 year after surgery. Two children had surgery less than 1 year ago and were not eating fully orally at the time of data collection.
Conclusion:
Sham-feeding at home by the parents was safe and feasible with the benefits of a prolonged time out of hospital awaiting reconstructive surgery.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:26Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
01:30Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...