Aspiration and Dysphagia in the Neonatal Patient

Nikhila Raol, Thomas Schrepfer, Christopher Hartnick,

Clinics in Perinatology 45 (2018) 645–660

KEY POINTS

_ Management of neonatal dysphagia and aspiration should involve a multidisciplinary  effort, including neonatologists, otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, and speech-language pathologists.

_ Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy and a formal swallow evaluation in conjunction with the speech pathologist should be undertaken in any neonatal patient with dysphagia.

_ Babies born before 34 weeks may have dysphagia owing to a developmental delay.

_ Although the otolaryngologist may recommend acid suppression in patients with laryngomalacia, there is a lack of evidence to support use of acid suppression medications in suspected extraesophageal reflux disease.

_ Addressing anatomic/structural causes of aspiration are indicated when present; however, the vast majority are nonanatomic.