Evaluation of Swallowing Coordination in Infants with a History of Mechanical Ventilation Longer Than 7 Days in the Neonatal Period and Assessment of Response to Oral Stimulation Maneuver

Background: Dysphagia is a frequent complication defined as difficulty in any stage of swallowing. Infants with history mechanical ventilation might show coordinating pharyngeal muscles resulting dysphagia. Objectives: The present study aimed to the prevalence swallowing disorders and associated symptoms among high-risk infants prolonged ventilation. Methods: A quasi-experimental was conducted at Breastfeeding Research Center, Tehran, Iran. All neonates entered study. Parents were asked respond provided questionnaire regarding their infants’ disorders. Accordingly, considered candidates for intervention. parents also received simple training perform oral sensorimotor stimulation protocol children. Through follow-up visit, filled up every infant. Finally, all data related responses before after interventions compared possible effects interventions. Results: total 25 mean period 15.95 ± 6.644 days. Concerning frequency complications, 24 (96%) had different degrees After 3 - 6 months interventions, number cases coughing (P = 0.016), spitting food out by mouth 0.0001), choking humid breath 0.031), poor weight gain 0.002), need cut into small pieces 0.004) significantly lower than suffering from such complications results showed that dysphagia 10 (41.66%) entirely others (38.44%) partially improved. Conclusions: delineated greater risk complications. early diagnosis implementation could improve