Is Swallowing Assessment for Preterm/High Risk Neonates Important in NICU?

Background: Establishing oral feeding in preterm babies is challenging in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU). Literature shows that more than 70% of babies born as preterm have oral feeding difficulties and 40% of these babies have penetration or aspiration risk with the initiation of oral feeding. The aim of the study was to identify the number of preterm babies referred for swallowing assessment in NICU along with the percentage of preterm babies who needed Videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing along with its findings January 2020 and December 2021 between 2020 and 2021. In addition the study aimed to determine the percentage of readmission among preterm babies within 3 months of discharge from NICU for aspiration or other oral feeding concerns during the above mentioned time period.Methods: This is a retrospective study done during two years from January 2020 and December 2021.Results: 5.4% of the babies referred to SLP services needed Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS) as clinical bedside swallow assessment indicated penetration/aspiration risk. The VFSS in 3/18 babies had silent aspiration even with safe feeding strategies; thereby, were recommended to continue enteral feeding for nutritional needs. 44.4% of preterm and full term babies in NICU had penetrations on oral feeding on regular feeding devices in the VFSS; thereby, needed specialized slow flow nipples.Conclusion: The study concluded that feeding related complications and aspiration in preterm term infants, while in the NICU, can be minimized with the oral feeding rehabilitation provided by the SLP from 33 weeks of corrected gestation age; and this reduces the readmission rate for these babies, in turn reducing the hospital cost.

Is Swallowing Assessment for Preterm/High Risk Neonates Important in NICU? Keywords:

Aspiration , Feeding difficulties , High Risk Neonates , NICU , Preterm , Swallowing Assessment