Comparison of Intermittent Oro-Esophageal Tube Feeding in Infants With Cerebral Palsy and Dysphagia

Comparison of Intermittent Oro-Esophageal Tube Feeding Versus Persistent Nasogastric Tube Feeding in Infants With Cerebral Palsy and Dysphagia: A Randomized Controlled Study

This was a randomized controlled study including 80 infants with cerebral palsy and dysphagia. The Participants were evenly divided into the observation group (with intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding, n=40) and the control group (with persistent nasogastric tube feeding , n=40). Nutritional status and physical development, condition of dysphagia, and pneumonia before and after 3-month treatment were compared.

In China, for nutrition support in the infants under one year of age with cerebral palsy and dysphagia, persistent nasogastric tube feeding is the mainstream choice. However, the efficacy of persistent nasogastric tube feeding is not sufficiently satisfactory, necessitating the exploration for a more effective and safe nutrition support approach. Therefore, this study reports the clinical effect of intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding compared to persistent nasogastric tube feeding in the infants with cerebral palsy and dysphagia who received systemic therapy.

Method This was a randomized controlled study including 80 infants with cerebral palsy and dysphagia. The Participants were evenly divided into the observation group (with intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding, n=40) and the control group (with persistent nasogastric tube feeding, n=40). Nutritional status and physical development, condition of dysphagia, and pneumonia before and after 3-month treatment were compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• meeting the diagnostic criteria of cerebral palsy formulated by the 13th National Conference on Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation;
• age<1 year;
• diagnosed as dysphagia confirmed by Dysphagia Disorder Survey or pediatric esophagoscopy;
• with a nasogastric tube inserted at admission;
• enteral nutrition support is required and feasible.

Exclusion Criteria:

• with dysphagia caused by other diseases or factors;
• with progressive neurological disease or degenerative neurological disease;
• with severe heart disease, liver or kidney dysfunction, hematological disorders, or other acute and severe symptoms;
• with abnormalities in the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, or other parts of the digestive tract;
• with poor compliance.