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BackTable / ENT / Podcast / Episode #165

Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU

with Olivia Brooks, SLP

In this episode, pediatric speech language pathologist (SLP) Olivia Brooks (University of Florida Shands Hospital) shares her experience performing inpatient fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) with host Dr. Gopi Shah.

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Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU with Olivia Brooks, SLP on the BackTable ENT Podcast)
Ep 165 Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU with Olivia Brooks, SLP
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2024, April 2). Ep. 165 – Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Olivia Brooks, SLP discusses Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU on the BackTable 165 Podcast

Olivia Brooks, SLP

Olivia Brooks is a pediatric speech-language pathologist at UF Health in Gainesville, Florida.

Dr. Gopi Shah discusses Implementing FEES for Infants in CVICU & NICU on the BackTable 165 Podcast

Dr. Gopi Shah

Dr. Gopi Shah is a pediatric otolaryngologist and the co-host of BackTable ENT.

Synopsis

First, Olivia reviews the presentation of swallowing disorders in infants. She explains differences between the two most common swallowing tests: videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) and (FEES). Then, she reviews how she uses patient comorbidities and the physical exam to select the appropriate test for each infant. Underscoring the importance of collaboration across care teams, she describes her role performing swallow studies in the NICU and pediatric CVICU. She then shares tips on equipment, ergonomics, and teamwork while performing bedside FEES. The podcast wraps with her advice about working on an interprofessional team to care for children with swallowing disorders.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
06:26 - The Importance of a Comprehensive Evaluation
13:00 - Choosing Between VFSS & FEES
22:44 - The Evolution of Inpatient Bedside FEES
31:27 - The Role of Speech Pathologists in Swallow Assessment
33:23 - Collaboration between Speech Pathologists & Otolaryngologists
35:31 - Developing Safety Protocols for Bedside FEES
41:21 - Equipment for Bedside FEES
53:20 - Differences between the NICU and the CVICU
01:00:03 - Final Thoughts and Advice Regarding Swallow Studies

Resources

KARL STORZ ENT Products:
https://www.karlstorznetwork1.com/ent

Olivia Brooks CCC-SLP’s UF Profile
https://ufhealth.org/doctors/olivia-a-brooks/bio

Transcript Preview

[Dr. Gopi Shah]
That's great. Just to set the clinical stage, how do infants with feeding difficulties usually present to you in the hospital? You can, if you want, divide it by, the NICU babies usually present this way because they're so different from the CVICU babies. Then, of course, the PICU babies.

[Olivia Brooks, SLP]
They are very different, and it depends on where they're at from a developmental stage as well. Our very young premature babies, 32-33 weeks, they're just having those emerging skills and feeding cues. We're working on strengthening their oral motor functions and providing good positive experiences for them with feeding. A lot of my work revolves around positioning them for feeding well and handling flow rates and helping moms breastfeed. They're typically a little bit slower to feed. They might take a little bit longer. We have a level four NICU, so we see very sick infants as well, babies with tracheostomies, babies that have had prolonged NPO because they've had to be on high levels of respiratory support or they've had GI infections and intolerance. From an ENT perspective, we have your typical noisy breathers. A lot of premature babies sort of have that elongated face. They'll have high, narrow palates. They can be born with all sorts of congenital anomalies as well. We see choanal atresia, pretty severe laryngomalacia from time to time will come up. If they've been intubated, we will see intubation injuries, airway edema, things like that.

Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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Articles

Pediatric FEES: Protocols, Feeders & Ergonomics in Cardiac Care

Pediatric FEES: Protocols, Feeders & Ergonomics in Cardiac Care

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) in Pediatric Care: Equipment, Setup, & Clinical Outcomes

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) in Pediatric Care: Equipment, Setup, & Clinical Outcomes

Evaluating Infant Feeding Difficulties: The Role of FEES & VFSS

Evaluating Infant Feeding Difficulties: The Role of FEES & VFSS

Topics

Feeding Difficulties Condition Overview
Learn about Pediatric ENT on BackTable ENT
Learn about Speech Language Pathology on BackTable ENT

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