A Pilot Study of Pulmonary Function in Dysphagic Infants

Infants less than 2 years old who have been newly diagnosed with problems swallowing will have pulmonary function tests performed to try to detect the presence of chronic lung disease. Six months later after the infants have received appropriate therapy for their swallowing problems, pulmonary function tests will be performed again to see if there has been any change in their chronic lung disease.

Twenty-five infants between the ages of 1 month and 24 months who have just been diagnosed with dysphagia via a modified barium feeding study will be recruited into the study. The infants will be sedated with chloral hydrate and have pulmonary functions measured (pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry and lung volume) using the infant pulmonary laboratory. Treatment for the infants' dysphagia/chronic aspiration will be treated as determined by the primary care physicians. Six months later the infants will again be sedated and have pulmonary functions measured. Results of the two sets of tests will be compared statistically.

Tests will be performed on study patients within 1 week of study enrollment and again 6 months later.

Inclusion Criteria: infants between ages 1-24 months who have been newly diagnosed with dysphagia Exclusion Criteria: cystic fibrosis obstructive sleep apnea seizures allergy or adverse reaction to chloral hydrate heart disease liver disease kidney disease pneumonia pleural effusion neuromuscular disease major congenital anomalies tracheoesophageal fistula vascular ring bronchopulmonary dysplasia pharyngeal anomalies Arnold-Chiari malformation