Does the Post-Feeding Position Affect Gastric Residue in Preterm Infants?

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric gastroenterology

Background:

• Body position influences gastric emptying and residue.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for infant feeding protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of post-feeding body positions on gastric residue in preterm infants.
• To determine the most effective positions for minimizing gastric residue.

Main Methods:

• An experimental study involving 40 preterm infants (<2,000g) in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• Infants were orogastrically fed and sequentially placed in right lateral, left lateral, supine, and prone positions.
• Gastric residue was measured via nasogastric tube at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes post-feeding.

Main Results:

• The right lateral position showed the lowest gastric residue at 30, 60, and 180 minutes.
• The prone position exhibited the lowest residue at 120 minutes.
• Left lateral and supine positions consistently showed higher gastric residue levels.

Conclusions:

• Preterm infants demonstrate reduced gastric residue in right lateral and prone positions.
• Gastric emptying rate is highest in the right lateral position (30, 60, 180 min) and prone position (120 min).
• Positioning plays a key role in managing gastric emptying in preterm infants.