Results
113 children, median age (range) 2.2 years (0.1-17.9) successfully
completed VFSS. Forty-six (41%) had oropharyngeal aspiration, 9 (8%)
overt alone and 37 (33%) including silent aspirations. Underlying
medical conditions included clinically suspected aspiration lung disease
(ALD), 87 (77%); neurologic disease, 73 (64%); gastrointestinal
disease, 73 (64%) and congenital heart disease, 42 (37%), not mutually
exclusive. Those with ALD or cerebral palsy were more likely to have
aspiration by VFSS, OR 3.2 and 9.8 respectively. Sensitivity and
specificity of CFE for VFSS diagnosis of aspiration were 71% and 84%
respectively.
Feeding recommendations after VFSS differed significantly from those
based on prior CFE, p<0.001: The rate of exclusively orally
fed children increased from 65% to 79%, p=0.006 and exclusively
enterally fed children from 10% to 14%; p=0.005. During the following
year, there were significantly less antibiotic courses, as well as total
and respiratory admissions.