Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy

Background: Oral feeding practices of young patients on high-flow oxygen (HFO2) have been controversial. Limited literature exists on this topic, but new studies suggest introducing oral feeds. Objective: This study aims to describe the changes in swallowing and feeding of a group of young children...

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Main Authors: Ruhee Hoosain, Bhavani Pillay, Shabnam Abdoola, Marien A. Graham, Esedra Krüger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2024-03-01
Series:South African Journal of Communication Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/1010
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author Ruhee Hoosain
Bhavani Pillay
Shabnam Abdoola
Marien A. Graham
Esedra Krüger
author_facet Ruhee Hoosain
Bhavani Pillay
Shabnam Abdoola
Marien A. Graham
Esedra Krüger
author_sort Ruhee Hoosain
collection DOAJ
description Background: Oral feeding practices of young patients on high-flow oxygen (HFO2) have been controversial. Limited literature exists on this topic, but new studies suggest introducing oral feeds. Objective: This study aims to describe the changes in swallowing and feeding of a group of young children on HFO2. Method: Twelve participants (mean age 34.17 months [s.d. = 3.97]) on HFO2 were assessed clinically at the bedside using the Schedule of Oral Motor Assessment. Assessments were conducted twice to determine the change in characteristics: upon approval from the managing doctor when respiratory stability on HFO2 was achieved and for a second time on the last day of receiving HFO2 (mean 2.6 days apart). Patients received standard in-patient care and speech therapy intervention. Results: Most participants displayed typical oral motor function at initial and final assessments for liquid, puree and semi-solid consistencies. Purees and soft solid consistencies were introduced to most participants (n = 11, 91.7%). Solids and chewables were challenging for all participants during both assessments. Half of the participants displayed gagging and a wet vocal quality with thin liquids at the initial assessment only. Conclusion: This small-scale study found that HFO2 should not preclude oral diets, but in this sample, small amounts of oral feeding could be introduced with caution, in an individualised manner, and with a collaborative multidisciplinary approach. Further research is essential. Contribution: Partial oral feeding of specific consistencies was possible during the assessment of young paediatric in-patients on HFO2. Monitoring of individual patient characteristics and risk factors by a specialist feeding team is essential.
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spelling doaj.art-9bfcc6d2a5a843dd919eef6a1447c1712024-04-04T09:16:40ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Communication Disorders0379-80462225-47652024-03-01711e1e710.4102/sajcd.v71i1.1010731Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapyRuhee Hoosain0Bhavani Pillay1Shabnam Abdoola2Marien A. Graham3Esedra Krüger4Department of Speech-Language, Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language, Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language, Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language, Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaBackground: Oral feeding practices of young patients on high-flow oxygen (HFO2) have been controversial. Limited literature exists on this topic, but new studies suggest introducing oral feeds. Objective: This study aims to describe the changes in swallowing and feeding of a group of young children on HFO2. Method: Twelve participants (mean age 34.17 months [s.d. = 3.97]) on HFO2 were assessed clinically at the bedside using the Schedule of Oral Motor Assessment. Assessments were conducted twice to determine the change in characteristics: upon approval from the managing doctor when respiratory stability on HFO2 was achieved and for a second time on the last day of receiving HFO2 (mean 2.6 days apart). Patients received standard in-patient care and speech therapy intervention. Results: Most participants displayed typical oral motor function at initial and final assessments for liquid, puree and semi-solid consistencies. Purees and soft solid consistencies were introduced to most participants (n = 11, 91.7%). Solids and chewables were challenging for all participants during both assessments. Half of the participants displayed gagging and a wet vocal quality with thin liquids at the initial assessment only. Conclusion: This small-scale study found that HFO2 should not preclude oral diets, but in this sample, small amounts of oral feeding could be introduced with caution, in an individualised manner, and with a collaborative multidisciplinary approach. Further research is essential. Contribution: Partial oral feeding of specific consistencies was possible during the assessment of young paediatric in-patients on HFO2. Monitoring of individual patient characteristics and risk factors by a specialist feeding team is essential.https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/1010swallowingfeedinghigh-flow oxygenoral motor characteristicssomaspeech-language therapistburns
spellingShingle Ruhee Hoosain
Bhavani Pillay
Shabnam Abdoola
Marien A. Graham
Esedra Krüger
Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
South African Journal of Communication Disorders
swallowing
feeding
high-flow oxygen
oral motor characteristics
soma
speech-language therapist
burns
title Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
title_full Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
title_fullStr Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
title_full_unstemmed Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
title_short Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy
title_sort swallowing and feeding of young children on high flow oxygen therapy
topic swallowing
feeding
high-flow oxygen
oral motor characteristics
soma
speech-language therapist
burns
url https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/1010
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AT bhavanipillay swallowingandfeedingofyoungchildrenonhighflowoxygentherapy
AT shabnamabdoola swallowingandfeedingofyoungchildrenonhighflowoxygentherapy
AT marienagraham swallowingandfeedingofyoungchildrenonhighflowoxygentherapy
AT esedrakruger swallowingandfeedingofyoungchildrenonhighflowoxygentherapy