Long-term feeding outcomes after infant tracheostomy

Objective: To characterize long-term feeding outcomes in infants who underwent tracheostomy prior to their first birthday. Study design: Retrospective review of feeding outcomes at initial hospital discharge and age 5 in a cohort of infants who underwent tracheostomy at a children's hospital over a 16-year period. Results: 145 infants met inclusion criteria. In this cohort, 117 were feeding tube dependent at time of initial hospital discharge and 71 were feeding tube dependent age 5. 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 factors 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.