Oral Enteral Nutrition in Infants With Cerebral Palsy and Dysphagia

Oral Versus Nasl Enteral Nutrition 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.

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.
• 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.