Effect of Swallowing Rehabilitation Protocol on Swallowing Function in Patients with Esophageal Atresia and/or Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Abstract

<b>Aim</b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of Swallowing Rehabilitation Protocol (SRP) on swallowing function (SF) of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF) patients with pharyngeal swallowing disorder. <b>Materials and Methods</b> In this study, 24 children with EA-TEF who had deglutitive and respiratory problems were grouped into either study (<i>n</i> = 12) or control group (<i>n</i> = 12) by basic randomization. Study group received the SRP including neuromuscular electrical stimulation, thermal tactile stimulation, and hyolaryngeal mobilization. The control group received nonnutritive stimulations. SF was evaluated with 3 mL liquid and pudding barium by videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) before and after 20 sessions of interventions. <b>Results</b> No statistical differences were found between groups in terms of descriptive characteristics including age, sex, weight, height, type of atresia, repair type, repair time, and start time of oral intake (<i>p</i> > 0.05). There were no statistical differences between groups in term of swallowing parameters (<i>p</i> > 0.05), except reflux (<i>p</i> = 0.004) according to VFSS findings. After 20 sessions of interventions, the study group showed improvement in penetration-aspiration scale scores, oral phase dysfunction, delay in swallowing reflex, and residue in valleculae and pyriform sinuses after pudding swallow. The control group showed improvement only in oral phase dysfunction. <b>Conclusion</b> SRP can be recommended to improve SF in patients with EA/TEF who have pharyngeal swallowing disorders.