Objectives: Static Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (SEES) has been demonstrated to have a strong correlation with the Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) in adults. In children, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluations of Swallow (FEES) are frequently performed to avoid repeated VFSS; however, a subset of the population does not tolerate FEES. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a modified SEES in children.Methods: Charts of 50 consecutive patients who underwent FEES evaluations were reviewed. Patients age 3 months to 12 years undergoing SEES, FEES, and VFSS were extracted. We compared a binary assessment of outcome on SEES versus VFSS as the diagnostic standard to report characteristics, including sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predicted value.Results: A total of 36 patients met all inclusion criteria (mean age 2.8 years). Using the VFSS as the diagnostic standard, residue seen on SEES had a sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity of 85.7%, a positive predictive value of 88.9%, and a negative predictive value of 75.0% for predicting deep penetration or aspiration.Conclusion: SEES may be helpful for developing an initial diagnostic impression and may serve as a platform for patient and caregiver counseling. In children who are unable to cooperate with FEES, SEES may provide clinical insight in predicting an abnormal swallow study; however, a normal SEES was less reliable in predicting a safe swallow on subsequent VFSS in this patient population.
We recently published the 3-month follow-up of 2 neonates with Robin sequence whose mandibular hypoplasia and restricted airway were successfully treated with an orthodontic airway plate (OAP) without surgical intervention. Both infants were successfully weaned off the OAP after several months of continuous use. We present the course of OAP treatment in these patients with a focus on breathing, feeding, and facial growth during their first year of life. Both infants demonstrated stable mandibular projection, resolution of obstructive sleep apnea, and normal development.
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