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Effects of an Oral Stimulation Program on Feeding Outcomes in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Elena Muñoz-Gómez1, Marta Inglés1, Sara Mollà-Casanova1

  • 1UBIC Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain.

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
|May 19, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Sensorimotor stimulation protocols, combining manual oral stimulation with non-nutritive sucking, improve feeding efficacy and shorten hospital stays for preterm infants. However, these interventions do not significantly impact weight gain.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Clinical nutrition

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience feeding difficulties.
  • Early sensorimotor interventions aim to improve feeding outcomes.
  • Unimodal protocols combine specific stimulation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the literature on unimodal sensorimotor stimulation for preterm infant feeding.
  • To evaluate effects on time to full oral feeding, feeding efficacy, hospital stay, and weight gain.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search across five databases up to April 2022.
  • Included studies compared manual oral stimulation with non-nutritive sucking (NNS) against usual care.
  • Eleven studies involving preterm infants were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Sensorimotor stimulation significantly reduced time to full oral feeding (SMD -1.08) and improved feeding efficacy (SMD 2.15).
  • Length of hospital stay was significantly shortened (SMD -0.35).
  • No significant improvements in body weight gain were observed (SMD 0.27).

Conclusions:

  • Unimodal sensorimotor stimulation protocols enhance feeding transition and efficacy in preterm infants.
  • These protocols contribute to a shorter hospital stay.
  • Current evidence does not support a significant effect on weight gain for preterm infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Feeding efficacyhospital dischargemeta-analysisoral stimulationpreterm infants

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