41. Characteristics of preterm infants with swallowing and sucking difficulties at the Children’s Hospital of Vietnam
Main Article Content
Abstract
Preterm infants are at risk of swallowing difficulties due to the immature the nervous system and the discoordination of the suck–swallow–breathe sequence. Furthermore, the anatomical structures of the oral region are affected by non-physiological external factors such as endotracheal intubation, positive pressure ventilation, nasogastric tube feeding, and adhesive tape, which limit oral movements. POFRAS is an effective scale for predicting premature infants' readiness for oral feeding as well as the risk of swallowing difficulties. The study on 60 preterm infants showed that the group of very preterm infants (28 to < 32 weeks gestation) accounted for the highest proportion at 60%, and the group with very low birth weight (1.500 to < 2.500 grams) had the highest proportion at 63.3%. The infant’s weight showed a positive linear correlation with the POFRAS score. Conclusion: Infants who were born very preterm and those with very low birth weight accounted for the highest proportion among preterm children with dysphagia. The heavier the infant's weight, the higher the POFRAS score. Feeding and swallowing difficulties in these infants are associated with the absence of oral reflexes, restricted oral motor movements, and the discoordination of the suck–swallow–breathe sequence due to prolong ventilation.
Article Details
Keywords
Preterm infants, swallowing difficulties, POFRAS
References
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