Frequency-modulated orocutaneous stimulation promotes non-nutritive suck development in preterm infants with

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S M Barlow1, J Lee2, J Wang3

  • 11] Department of Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences and Disorders, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA [2] Program in Neuroscience, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA [3] Program in Human Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA [4] Program in Bioengineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|December 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Frequency-modulated orocutaneous stimulation via a specialized pacifier enhances non-nutritive suck (NNS) in preterm infants with lung disease. This intervention also reduced hospital length of stay (LOS) for infants with chronic lung disease (CLD).

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal development
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Respiratory medicine

Background:

  • Premature infants face challenges in developing oromotor behaviors due to extrauterine life.
  • The efficacy of patterned orocutaneous input for enhancing non-nutritive suck (NNS) in preterm infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of frequency-modulated (FM) orocutaneous pulse trains on NNS development in tube-fed preterm infants.
  • To assess the impact of this stimulation on length of stay (LOS) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving 160 preterm infants, including those with CLD and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
  • Infants received either FM pulsed orocutaneous stimulation via a specialized pacifier or a sham control during gavage feeds for up to 10 days.
  • Statistical analysis used mixed modeling to assess NNS parameters and LOS.

Main Results:

  • Pulsed orosensory stimulation significantly improved NNS bursts per minute, NNS events per minute, and total oral compressions per minute in preterm infants.
  • Infants with RDS and CLD showed the most significant improvements in NNS performance.
  • CLD infants receiving the pulsed stimulation had a significantly shorter LOS by an average of 2.5 days.

Conclusions:

  • Frequency-modulated pulsed orocutaneous stimulation delivered through a pacifier effectively enhances NNS development in preterm infants with RDS and CLD.
  • This intervention offers the additional benefit of reducing hospital LOS for preterm infants with CLD.
Abstract

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