Gastrointestinal Dysmotility on Aspiration Risk

Inclusion criteria

• are 5-21 years of age;
• receive >90% of their calories by enteral tube (i.e., patients take no food or drink by mouth);
• are determined to be at high risk for aspiration pneumonia based on evidence of impaired airway protective mechanisms, documented by aspiration on video fluoroscopic swallow study;
• have static neurologic impairment, defined as functional and/or intellectual impairment that results from a chronic neurologic or related diagnosis (e.g., cerebral palsy) with no prospect of progression for at least one year;
• have chronic respiratory symptoms, defined as coughing, choking, or need for oral suctioning a minimum of three times per week during the prior four weeks.

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Exclusion criteria

• have progressive neurologic impairment;
• have a history of prior intact Nissen fundoplication;
• are currently taking oral or inhaled antibiotics, including prophylactic antibiotics;
• are currently taking or have taken in the last four weeks acid suppression (H2 antagonist or PPI); or
• are fed by gastrojejunostomy rather than by gastrostomy. -