Study of Fetal Swallowing

NCT00004566 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 00008100-CC-0081
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will establish a database of fetal movements associated with feeding. It will use information obtained from standard fetal ultrasound procedures to identify and measure the growth of the baby's face, lips, tongue, jaw, throat and airway. Fetal movements involved in breathing, sucking and swallowing will be recorded on videotape. This study may provide information that will: increase knowledge about how swallowing develops in the fetus; help explain why some babies have difficulty sucking and swallowing at birth; help predict what babies are at increased risk for feeding problems; and help design better ways to manage feeding difficulties in babies. Pregnant women scheduled for ultrasound examination at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, or Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., are eligible for this study. Mothers will fill out a questionnaire providing general medical and health information. For the ultrasound procedure, a transducer (a small, wand-like device) is moved across the belly to produce images of the fetus. When the baby is awake and swallowing, images of the mouth, throat and air passages will be recorded on videotape. The movements associated with feeding-breathing, sucking, yawning and swallowing-will then be measured to document how swallowing develops. When the baby is born, researchers will review the medical chart for any findings relevant to this study. One to 2 weeks after delivery, the mother will be interviewed by telephone about the baby's feeding skills. Follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks after the birth will include observation of the baby's sucking and swallowing and an ultrasound examination, in which the transducer is held under the baby's chin during swallowing. Babies who show signs of slow sucking or swallowing development will have a follow-up examination at ages 4 and 8 months. Follow-up visits at 4 and 8 months after the birth will include observation of the baby's sucking and swallowing and an ultrasound examination, in which the transducer is held under the baby's chin during swallowing.

Conditions

Deglutition Disorder; High Risk Pregnancy

Keywords

3D Imaging; Swallowing; Fetal Development; High-Risk Pregnancy; Ultrasound

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Only mothers with singleton or twin pregnancies will be included in the pilot study.
• All parents will sign both the NIH and teh NNMC/Georgetown consent forms at the beginning of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC): lead

Study Sites (1)

Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Abramowicz JS, Sherer DM, Bar-Tov E, Woods JR Jr. The cheek-to-cheek diameter in the ultrasonographic assessment of fetal growth. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Oct;165(4 Pt 1):846-52. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(91)90427-s.

  PMID: 1951542 BACKGROUND

• Achiron R, Ben Arie A, Gabbay U, Mashiach S, Rotstein Z, Lipitz S. Development of the fetal tongue between 14 and 26 weeks of gestation: in utero ultrasonographic measurements. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1997 Jan;9(1):39-41. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1997.09010039.x.

  PMID: 9060129 BACKGROUND

• Bowie JD, Clair MR. Fetal swallowing and regurgitation: observation of normal and abnormal activity. Radiology. 1982 Sep;144(4):877-8. doi: 10.1148/radiology.144.4.7111741. No abstract available.

  PMID: 7111741 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Deglutition Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Esophageal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2000
• First Posted: February 14, 2000
• Study Start: February 1, 2000
• Study Completion: May 1, 2004
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2004-05

Locations

US (1)