Long-Term Feeding Outcomes after Infant Tracheostomy

Abstract Objective: To characterize long-term feeding outcomes and identify factors which impact feeding at age 5 in a group of infants who underwent tracheostomy. Study Design: Retrospective review of feeding outcomes at age 5 in a group of infants who underwent tracheostomy at a children’s hospital over a 16-year period. Results: 145 patients were included. At age 5, 49% of those patients demonstrated feeding dysfunction and remained dependent on a feeding tube. Cardiovascular comorbidities (p=0.009), long-term tracheostomy dependence (p < 0.001), higher birth weight (p=0.011), older age at tracheostomy decannulation (p < 0.001) and older gestational age (p=0.007) were associated with feeding tube dependence at age 5. Conclusion: The long-term feeding outcomes of infants who require tracheostomy demonstrate high levels of feeding impairment at age 5. Cardiovascular comorbidities, older gestational age, higher birth weight, older mean age at decannulation and long-term tracheostomy were associated with long-term feeding impairment.