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Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants

J Hawes1, P McEwan, W McGuire

  • 1Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8. judith.hawes@sickkids.ca

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|July 22, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Limited evidence exists on feeding tube placement in preterm infants. More research is needed to determine if nasal or oral feeding tubes are safer and more effective for infant growth and development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric gastroenterology
  • Clinical nutrition

Background:

  • Enteral feeding tubes are crucial for preterm and low birth weight infants.
  • Tube placement can be nasal or oral, each with potential complications.
  • Nasal tubes may affect respiration, while oral tubes risk displacement and vagal stimulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate randomized controlled trials comparing nasal versus oral feeding tubes in preterm infants.
  • To assess effects on infant growth, development, and adverse events.

Main Methods:

  • Searched Cochrane Neonatal Group, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and other databases.
  • Included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
  • Extracted data on relative risk and mean differences.

Main Results:

  • Only one eligible trial with 42 infants was identified.
  • The trial focused on apnea and periodic breathing, not growth and development.
  • Data on primary outcomes for this review were not reported.

Conclusions:

  • Insufficient data exist to guide clinical practice regarding feeding tube placement.
  • A large randomized controlled trial is necessary to compare nasal and oral feeding tubes.
  • Further research should assess effects on growth, development, and adverse consequences.
Abstract

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