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Published on: February 5, 2019
Effectiveness of 2 interventions for independent oral feeding in preterms
María Fernanda Hernández Gutiérrez1, N Marta Díaz-Gómez2, Alejandro Jiménez Sosa3
1Servicio de Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Insights
Combining tactile, kinesthetic, and oral stimulation (T + K + OS) significantly speeds up independent oral feeding in preterm newborns (PTNBs). This approach is more effective than solely oral stimulation (OS) for improving feeding outcomes in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Oral feeding is often delayed in preterm newborns (PTNBs) due to immaturity and illness, extending hospital stays.
- Assessing interventions to improve feeding efficiency is crucial for PTNB care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined tactile, kinesthetic, and oral stimulation (T + K + OS) program.
- To compare the T + K + OS program with an exclusively oral stimulation (OS) program.
- To determine the impact on time to independent feeding and hospital discharge in PTNBs.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical study involving 42 PTNBs (gestational age 27-32 weeks, birth weight > 900 g).
- Two groups: one receiving T + K + OS and the other receiving OS only.
- Stimulation sessions were 15 minutes daily for 10 days.
Main Results:
- PTNBs in the T + K + OS group achieved independent oral feeding significantly earlier (24.9 days) than the OS group (34.1 days) (P = .02).
- Analysis confirmed birth weight and gestational age influenced feeding time, but the T + K + OS intervention remained significant (P = .018).
- Hospital discharge was earlier for the T + K + OS group (39 days) versus the OS group (45 days), though not statistically significant (P = .21).
Conclusions:
- Combined T + K + OS therapies are more effective than OS alone for achieving independent oral feeding in PTNBs.
- This multimodal stimulation approach shows promise for optimizing feeding development in preterm infants.
Introduction:
Oral feeding of preterm newborns (PTNB) is hampered by their immaturity and intercurrent diseases, which can prolong their hospital stay. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a program that combines tactile, kinesthetic and oral stimulation (T + K + OS) compared to another intervention based on exclusively oral stimulation (OS), in the time necessary to achieve independent feeding and hospital discharge.
Patients And Methods:
A clinical study of 2 randomized groups (OS vs. T + K + OS) was carried out on 42 PTNB with gestational age between 27-32 weeks and birth weight > 900 g. The stimulation programs were carried out in sessions of 15 min, for 10 days.
Results:
The PTNBs in the T + K + OS group achieved independent oral feeding earlier, compared to the OS group (24.9 ± 10.1 vs. 34.1 ± 15.6 days, P = .02). An analysis of covariance was performed, which confirmed that the birth weight and gestational age covariates had significant effects on time to reach suction feeding (birth weight: F[1, 38] = 5.79; P = .021; gestational age: F[1, 38] = 14.12; P = .001) and that once its effect was controlled, the intervention continued to have a significant effect (F[1, 38] = 6.07; P = .018). The T + K + OS group, compared to the OS group, achieved an earlier hospital discharge (39 ± 15 vs. 45 ± 18 days), although the differences were not significant (P = .21).
Conclusions:
Combined therapies that include T + K + OS are more effective than OS alone, in order to achieve independent oral feeding in PTNBs.
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