Evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy during hospitalisation: A case series.

PURPOSE: To describe the evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during hospitalisation.

METHOD: A longitudinal cohort study was used. Twenty-nine participants (median age 39.0 weeks [IQR = 2.0 weeks]) with mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 19) and severe (n = 3) HIE were included. Clinical swallowing and feeding assessments were conducted at introduction of oral feeds and at discharge using the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS). Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) supplemented the NFAS before discharge.

RESULT: Approximately two thirds of participants showed symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) during initial NFAS and VFSS. Significantly fewer OPD symptoms occurred at discharge NFAS (p = 0.004). Endurance during non-nutritive sucking (p < 0.001) and nutritive sucking (p < 0.001) significantly improved. Nine participants (31.0%) demonstrated penetration or aspiration. Most aspiration events were silent (60%). Instrumental assessment identified pharyngeal phase dysphagia more effectively than bedside evaluation. High proportions of participants displayed OPD symptoms regardless of HIE severity. The correlation between OPD severity and the length of hospitalisation (p = 0.052) was not significant.

CONCLUSION

All grades of HIE should be considered for early intervention by speech-language pathologists before discharge. Findings may be valuable to neonatal feeding teams.