Hypoxemia during oral feeding of children with severe cerebral palsy.

Oral feeding of children with severe dysphagia and multiple disabilities may result in hypoxemia. Pulse oximetry was used to monitor hemoglobin saturation (SpO2) during oral feeding of five children with multiple disabilities who were referred because of food refusal or coughing and fatigue during feeding. Modified barium videofluoroscopic swallow studies demonstrated deglutition abnormalities. SpO2 values were within the normal range at rest, but routine, upright oral feeding resulted in significant degrees of hypoxemia. The pharyngeal stage of deglutition was abnormal in all five children. In three, the periods of hypoxemia were dependent on food texture. Awareness of meal-time hypoxemia contributed to the decision to use gastrostomy-tube feedings for the other two children. Pulse oximetry during oral feeding should be considered for all children with severe dysphagia and multiple disabilities.