Presentation description

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease commonly seen in premature infants born less than 32 weeks gestational age and is diagnosed at 36 weeks post-menstrual age by infants' need for supplemental respiratory support such as supplemental oxygen, high flow nasal cannula, or positive pressure. Due to developmental immaturity, many premature children also have dysphagia or other swallowing dysfunction. Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) allow speech-pathologists to analyze swallowing function using barium swallow tests under fluoroscopy. While both BPD and dysphagia are common in premature infants, there is little information about the relationship between them. In this study, we aim to understand: the association between BPD severity and dysphagia, how swallowing function changes over time in children with BPD, and whether clinical characteristics predispose children to more severe or persistent swallowing dysfunction. We are conducting a retrospective single center review of children with dysphagia from one BPD Clinic from 2018 to present who had at least 2 VFSS. Data is being collected from 109 subjects on demographic features, BPD severity, VFSS results, and respiratory outcomes. We plan to analyze the data using multivariate regression analysis. This study will help clinicians better understand the natural history of dysphagia in children with BPD. It will be a foundation for research to evaluate potential interventions to improve swallowing function, decrease aspiration-associated respiratory morbidities, and improve long-term developmental and lung function outcomes for children with BPD.