Feeding and Swallowing Trends in Infants Born via Exit Procedure for Giant Head and Neck Masses

Abstract

Objectives: Infants born with giant head and neck (HN) masses can experience deficits in feeding-swallowing function in early infancy. This study aims to characterize the feeding-swallowing patterns of these infants and highlight trends in this unique population.Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of infants with giant HN masses born via EXIT (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment) procedure who received speech pathology services for feeding and swallowing between 2009 and 2019 at a tertiary children's hospital. Primary diagnoses included both teratoma and lymphatic malformation. Demographic data, surgical data, and speech pathology findings including clinical swallow evaluations (CSE) and video fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were collected and analyzed.