Pediatric Respiratory Disorders and Impact on Swallowing

Presented by Hema Desai and Jennifer Raminick

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Video Runtime: 45 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 45 Minutes

This course is a comprehensive review of the intricate relationship between pediatric respiratory disorders and their direct impact on swallowing function in infants and children. As healthcare professionals, understanding this complex interplay is essential for delivering holistic care to the youngest members of our patient population.

Learning Objectives
  • Define three key features and characteristics of pediatric respiratory disorders that contribute to feeding/eating/swallowing difficulties
  • Determine the synchronous relationship between bronchopulmonary dysplasia, dysphagia, and management strategies
  • Examine the synchronous relationship between brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs), dysphagia, and management strategies
  • Identify the synchronous relationship between acute respiratory illness, dysphagia, and management strategies
  • Distinguish the synchronous relationship between pediatric airway disorders, dysphagia, and management strategies
  • Analyze the synchronous relationship between extubation, dysphagia, and management strategies

Meet your instructors

Hema Desai

Hema Desai is an inpatient speech pathologist who has worked with infants and children with feeding and swallowing disorders since 2000. She has her board-certification specialties in swallowing and swallowing disorders (BCS-S) and neonatal touch and massage (NTMTC) and is a clinical lactation education counselor (CLEC). Hema…

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Jennifer Raminick

Jen Raminick graduated from California State University, Long Beach, and has been a speech-language pathologist at a pediatric acute care hospital for more than eight years. She has earned her board-certified specialist accreditation in swallowing and has multiple leadership roles in the hospital, including chair of the…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Incidence and Prevalence of Pediatric Respiratory Disorders

1. Incidence and Prevalence of Pediatric Respiratory Disorders

This chapter will describe pediatric respiratory disorders and discuss their prevalence in the US.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

2. Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

This chapter delves into the pathophysiology and underlying causes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Clinicians will explore the risk factors associated with BPD development and its profound impact on the coordination of the suck-swallow-breathe sequence in affected infants. Additionally, the chapter will examine the increased aspiration risks and the potential for adverse events linked to BPD.

Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs)

3. Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs)

In this chapter, clinicians will gain a solid foundation for understanding BRUEs and their prevalence in children under 1 year of age. The pivotal role of the therapist in the comprehensive medical workup process will also be discussed.

Acute Respiratory Illness

4. Acute Respiratory Illness

In this chapter, clinicians will gain a deeper understanding of the heightened risk of poor feeding, including aspiration, in infants with acute respiratory illness. The chapter covers a spectrum of respiratory support methods, including oxygen therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and describes how these oxygen delivery methods can impact feeding and swallowing.

Pediatric Airway Disorders

5. Pediatric Airway Disorders

This chapter examines the relationship between airway anomalies and swallowing difficulties. Clinicians will explore a range of complex disorders, including tracheomalacia, laryngomalacia, bronchomalacia, laryngeal cleft, and tracheoesophageal fistula.

Postextubation Dysphagia

6. Postextubation Dysphagia

This chapter describes postextubation dysphagia, covering the latest research findings in both adult and pediatric populations. Clinicians will gain an understanding of risk factors associated with poor outcomes resulting from postextubation dysphagia in children and be able to assess a patient’s readiness for transitioning to oral intake after extubation, ensuring safe and effective swallowing function.