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Abnormal developmental patterns of suck and swallow rhythms during feeding in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary

I H Gewolb1, J F Bosma, V L Taciak

  • 1University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baltimore 21201, USA. igewolb@peds.umaryland.edu

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|July 21, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) show disorganized suckle and swallow rhythms during feeding, unlike healthy infants. This feeding discoordination, especially after 35 weeks postmenstrual age, may signal future feeding and neurological issues.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently experience feeding difficulties.
  • Coordinated suckle feeding is crucial for infant development and nutritional intake.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate rhythmic differences in suckle and swallow patterns during bottle feeding in infants with BPD.
  • To compare feeding coordination between infants with BPD and a control group.

Main Methods:

  • Simultaneous digital recordings of pharyngeal and nipple pressure during feeding.
  • Weekly assessments of 14 infants with BPD and 20 age-matched controls.
  • Analysis of suckle rhythm stability, aggregation into runs, and run length.

Main Results:

  • Infants with BPD exhibited significantly decreased stability of suckle rhythm (p=0.003) and aggregation into suckle runs (p=0.001) compared to controls.
  • The length of suckle and swallow runs was significantly shorter in infants with BPD (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively).
  • No significant correlation between postmenstrual age (PMA) and feeding rhythm parameters was observed in the BPD group, unlike controls.

Conclusions:

  • Infants with BPD do not follow typical maturational patterns for suckle and swallow rhythms.
  • Delayed attainment of stable feeding rhythms in preterm infants with BPD, particularly after 35 weeks PMA, may predict later feeding and neurological complications.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring feeding coordination in infants with BPD for early intervention.

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