ORCHID Annual Report 2023 - Flipbook - Page 24
Alex Stewart
MRes, BSc
University College London, NIHR Fellowship
Diseases. 4;19(1):253.. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-024-03259-x
Study title: SaFE - A Mixed Methods Exploration of Swallowing, Feeding and
Eating in Children Born with Oesophageal Atresia and/or TracheaOesophageal Fistula (OA/TOF).
Stewart A, Govender R, Eaton S, Smith CH, De Coppi P, Wray J (2024) The
characteristics of eating, drinking and oro-pharyngeal swallowing difficulties
associated with repaired oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula: a
systematic review and meta-proportional analysis. European Society of
Swallowing Disorders Congress Muenster, Germany, 25-27 September 2024
Supervisors: Dr Christina Smith, Professor Jo Wray, Professor Paolo De
Coppi, Dr Roganie Govender
May 2019 - July 2024
Project update
Project Aims:
1. To describe the nature of pharyngeal and oesophageal stage dysphagia in
children under 1 year of age
with repaired OA/TOF
2. To describe the parental experiences of establishing feeding and mealtimes
in children with OA/TOF
3. To determine how feeding difficulties associated with OA/TOF impact on
parental quality of life and
wellbeing
4. To inform design of future large-scale studies of feeding/swallowing in
children with OA/TOF
The SaFE project consisted of three work packages, the results of which were
synthesized to meet the project aims. Work package one involved analysis of
swallow physiology of 12 infants at 2-4 months, 8-10 months and 12 months of
age. Assessment was undertaken with videofluoroscopy and high resolution
impedance manometry. Work package 2 used an online forum to explore
parental experiences of feeding children with OA/TOF. These data were used
to develop a questionnaire to further our understanding of the complex
interaction of swallow dysfunction, medical co-morbidities and parent factors
on feeding-related quality of life.
Work package 3 was a systematic review of characteristics of oro-pharyngeal
swallowing and feeding in OA/TOF across the lifespan.
Peer reviewed publications
Stewart A, Govender R, Eaton S, Smith CH, De Coppi P, Wray J (2024). The
characteristics of eating, drinking and oro-pharyngeal swallowing difficulties
associated with repaired oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula: a
systematic review and meta-proportional analysis. Orphanet Journal of Rare
Conference presentations
Stewart A, Van Hoeve E., Mustafa A., Lefton-Grief M., Smith C. Generating
UK normative data for the Feeding Swallowing Impact Survey. UK Swallowing
Research Group conference. Birmingham, UK, 8-9 February 2024
Invited talks
Stewart A. Paediatric dysphagia pre-congress workshop, Muenster Germany,
23-24 September 2024
Stewart A. The importance of holistic care in paediatric dysphagia: lessons
learnt from a study of oesophageal atresia. European Society of Swallowing
Disorders Congress. Muenster, Germany, 25-27 September 2024
