Comparing FEES to VFSS in Diagnosing Laryngeal Penetration and Aspiration in Infants in the NICU

Determining the Efficacy of Using FEES Compared to VFSS to Diagnose Laryngeal Penetration and Aspiration in Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The main purpose of the study is to determine whether the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is effective in detecting laryngeal penetration and tracheal aspiration when compared with the Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) in bottle-feeding infants in the NICU. A secondary objective is to determine whether FEES can be used to detect laryngeal penetration and tracheal aspiration in breastfeeding NICU infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 37 weeks or more postmenstrual age
• Diagnosis or suspicion of laryngeal penetration and/or tracheal aspiration by neonatal therapist and/or physician
• Inpatient at Baylor University Medical Center NICU

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not medically stable enough to undergo both FEES and VFSS as determined by neonatal therapist and/or physician
• Bilateral complete cleft lip and palate