Overview

This was a randomized controlled study. The infants enrolled were randomly divided into the IOE group (with Intermittent Oro-Esophageal Tube Feeding) and the PNG group (with Nasogastric Tube Feeding), all receiving systemic therapy. Before and after 4-week treatment, pulmonary infection, swallowing function, nutritional status and body weight between the two group were compared.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• meeting the diagnostic criteria for Pierre Robin sequence based on CT and X-ray examinations, combined with clinical manifestations and physical signs.
• with spontaneous vaginal birth, aged 1 to 12 months.
• with dysphagia screened by the water drinking test and further confirmed by the assessment of Dysphagia Disorders Survey (DDS), Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS), or Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment (SOMA)
• before the treatment, the tube feeding was required and feasible after evaluation.
• stable vital signs.
• with nasogastric tubes placed before the treatment.
• sufficient human milk could be provided by the mothers of the patients (with the help of a manual suction device).

Exclusion Criteria:

• abnormalities in brain development or other neurological lesions revealed by CT or MRI scans.
• dysphagia caused by other diseases.
• other congenital malformations, such as Down syndrome, cleft lip, and palate, etc.
• severe systemic disease (such as severe infection, severe hepatic and renal dysfunction).
• participants who need to receive other therapy which would potentially affect the result of this study