Patterned frequency-modulated oral stimulation in preterm infants: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Preterm infants often experience feeding difficulties, impacting their development and hospital stay duration.
• Early oral feeding is crucial for preterm infant development and successful transition home.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of patterned, frequency-modulated oro-somatosensory stimulation on the time to achieve full oral feeds in preterm infants.
• To assess the impact of this stimulation on hospital length of stay.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 210 preterm infants (26-30 weeks gestation).
• The experimental group received stimulation via a pulsatile pacifier (NTrainer system), while the control group received a non-pulsatile pacifier.
• Time-to-event analyses, including Cox proportional hazards models, were used to analyze outcomes.

Main Results:

• Infants receiving patterned stimulation reached full oral feeds 4.1 days sooner than controls (HR 1.37, p=0.03).
• In infants born 29-30 weeks gestation, stimulation significantly reduced hospital discharge time by 10 days (HR 1.87, p<0.01).
• No significant differences were observed in growth, mortality, or morbidities between groups.

Conclusions:

• Patterned, frequency-modulated oro-somatosensory stimulation is an effective intervention for improving feeding development in preterm infants.
• This stimulation method can lead to a reduced length of hospitalization for eligible preterm infants.