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Liquid Barium is not Representative of Infant Formula: Characterisation of Rheological and Material Properties

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Abstract

Infants experiencing dysphagia may undergo a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) to assess radiologically their coordination for sucking, swallowing, and breathing. No studies known to these authors have investigated whether the liquids used during infant radiological procedures are representative of liquids routinely fed to infants (e.g., formula). This study used an Advanced Rheometric Expansion System (ARES) strain-controlled rheometer to compare prethickened antiregurgitation formula, regular (thin) infant formula, and two types of regular infant formula, hand-thickened with a thickening agent and with liquid Polibar™ (barium-impregnated liquid). The viscosity, density, and yield stress of all samples were determined. Heated versus cooled liquids were compared. Results showed a significant difference in all rheological and material property parameters among the barium-impregnated liquids and the thickened and unthickened infant formula. This finding has important implications for the interpretation of the radiological results and subsequent clinical recommendations.

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Abbreviations

Reg-CowIF (37°C):

Regular (thin) cow’s milk powdered infant formula at body temperature (37°C)

Reg-SoyIF (37°C):

Regular (thin) soy milk powdered infant formula at body temperature (37°C)

PreThick-CowIF (37°C):

Prethickened cow’s milk powdered infant formula at body temperature (37°C)

HndThick-CowIF (37°C):

Hand-thickened cow’s milk infant formula at body temperature (37°C)

HndThick-SoyIF (37°C):

Hand-thickened soy milk infant formula at body temperature (37°C)

Polibar™ BaLiqu (34.5°C):

Polibar™ liquid barium sulphate, heated (34.5°C)

Polibar™ BaLiqu (25°C):

Polibar™ liquid barium sulphate, at room temperature (25°C)

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Correspondence to Julie Cichero.

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Cichero, J., Nicholson, T. & Dodrill, P. Liquid Barium is not Representative of Infant Formula: Characterisation of Rheological and Material Properties. Dysphagia 26, 264–271 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-010-9303-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-010-9303-3

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