Feeding Desaturation and Effects of Orocutaneous Stimulation in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants.

Choi,  Hae Won; Park,  Hye Won; Kim,  Hee Young; Lim,  Gina; Koo,  So Eun; Lee,  Byong Sop; Kim,  Ai Rhan; Kim,  Ki Soo; Pi,  Soo Young

doi:2010.17.2.193

Neonatal Med > Volume 17(2); 2010 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology 2010;17(2):193-200.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5385/jksn.2010.17.2.193 Published online October 15, 2010.

Feeding Desaturation and Effects of Orocutaneous Stimulation in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants.

Hae Won Choi, Hye Won Park, Hee Young Kim, Gina Lim, So Eun Koo, Byong Sop Lee, Ai Rhan Kim, Ki Soo Kim, Soo Young Pi

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Korea. arkim@amc.seoul.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Feeding desaturation is a common problem among preterm infants which can result in prolonged hospital stays, long-term feeding difficulties and growth delay. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of premature infants with feeding desaturation and to examine the effect of orocutaneous stimulation on oral feeding.
METHODS
During the first phase of this study, 125 extremely low birth weight infants were reviewed retrospectively. Characteristics between infants with feeding desaturation (n=34) and those without feeding desaturation (n=91) were examined. During the second phase, 29 infants recruited from March, 2009 to May, 2010 were subjected to orocutaneous stimulation. The results of orocutaneous stimulation were compared to a control group (n=81).
RESULTS
The first phase of the study revealed that extremely low birth weight infants with feeding desaturation were significantly lower in gestational ages at birth, and had lower 5 minute apgar scores, more gastroesophageal refluxes and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Infants without feeding desaturation reached full enteral feeding significantly earlier and showed shorter duration of hospital stay. At the second phase, infants in the intervention group showed shorter days to achieve initiation of bottle feeding, shorter days in achievement of full bottle feeding, last episodes of feeding desaturation and length of hospital stay compared to the control group of similar characteristics.
CONCLUSION
Orocutaneous stimulation among extremely low birth weight infants results in earlier achievement of full bottle feedings without episodes of feeding desaturation hence shortens the length of hospital stay.

Key Words: Premature; Orocutaneous stimulation; Feeding desaturation