SpO_2を指標とした重度重複障害児の食事時間の評価

概要

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Children and youth with severe and multiple disabilities often require a longer length of mealtime due to difficulties in masticating and swallowing. These young people, during mealtime, are often reported to encounter breathing problems because of respiratory malfunctions, which have a negative effect on their health. This case study of a 17-year-old male adolescent with SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) explores an appropriate length of mealtime by measuring the changes in SpO_2 (arterial oxygen saturation) during meals and observing the changes in his breathing condition. This study found that the breathing conditions of the subject tend to decline in the process of feeding, and that SpO_2 often drops below 90% around 30 minutes after the beginning of a meal. Furthermore, the subject often becomes somnolent while eating, which would be related to his decline of breathing. These data imply that an appropriate length of mealtime for the subject that would allow him to ingest sufficient nutrition would be around 20 minutes. This case study shows that the measurement of SpO_2 by pulse oximetry is an effective method to evaluate and determine appropriate eating conditions for children and youth with severe disabilities.
日本特殊教育学会の論文
2002-03-31