Open AccessPharyngeal Dysphagia in Children with Down Syndrome
Author(s) -
O’Neill Ashley C.,
Richter Gresham T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451438a210
Subject(s) - medicine , dysphagia , swallowing , airway obstruction , pediatrics , incidence (geometry) , retrospective cohort study , population , medical record , airway , pharynx , surgery , physics , environmental health , optics
Objective Swallowing problems in children with Down Syndrome (DS) are poorly understood. In particular, longitudinal examination of pharyngeal dysphagia (PD) in this population has not been performed. This study explores PD in a large group of children with DS to assess the incidence, risk factors, and role of intervention on PD. Method Twenty‐year retrospective chart review; children with DS were identified by ICD‐9 codes. Multidisciplinary charts were longitudinally reviewed for medical and surgical interventions of PD. Patients were excluded if records were incomplete or could not be assessed. Results Two hundred twelve (m = 117, f = 95) children with DS were identified for review. One hundred seventeen (55.2%) patients (m = 67, f = 50) demonstrated PD by video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) with an age range of 0.24 to 24.67 years. The mean age at first diagnosis was 1.69 years. Seventy‐eight patients with PD underwent 1 or more surgeries for upper airway obstruction (UAO). A laryngeal cleft was identified in 3 patients. At the time of the study, PD was unresolved in 97 patients (average age = 6.57 years) and resolved in 20 (average age = 6.72 years). Surgical procedures for UAO had no significant impact on PD. Conclusion This study suggests that PD is common (greater than 50%) and should be routinely explored in children with DS. Laryngeal clefts and surgical intervention for UAO do not appear to play a significant role in PD for DS patients.