title: Videofluoroscopic swallowing study findings in full-term and preterm infants with Dysphagia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical characteristics and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) findings in infants with suspected dysphagia and compare the clinical characteristics and VFSS findings between full-term and preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 107 infants (67 full-term and 40 preterm) with suspected dysphagia who were referred for VFSS at a tertiary university hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical characteristics and VFSS findings were reviewed by a physiatrist and an experienced speech-language pathologist. The association between the reasons of referral for VFSS and VFSS findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean gestational age was 35.1±5.3 weeks, and mean birth weight was 2,381±1,026 g. The most common reason for VFSS referral was 'poor sucking' in full-term infants and 'desaturation' in preterm infants. The most common associated medical condition was 'congenital heart disease' in full-term infants and 'bronchopulmonary dysplasia' in preterm infants. Aspiration was observed in 42 infants (39.3%) and coughing was the only clinical predictor of aspiration in VFSS. However, 34 of 42 infants (81.0%) who showed aspiration exhibited silent aspiration during VFSS. There were no significant differences in the VFSS findings between the full-term and preterm infants except for 'decreased sustained sucking.'
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are some differences in the clinical manifestations and VFSS findings between full-term and preterm infants with suspected dysphagia. The present findings provide a better understanding of these differences and can help clarify the different pathophysiologic mechanisms of dysphagia in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Uhm
authors.forename: Sook-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Jeong-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwon
keywords: Dysphagia; Fluoroscopy; Infant; Premature; Term birth