Affiliations:
Department of Neonatology, ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Tapas Bandyopadhyay, ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India. Tel.: +919910371315; E-mail: dr.tapasbanerjee@gmail.com. ORCID: 0000-0001-6872-0942.
Abstract: PURPOSE:To assess the performance of premature infant oral motor intervention for transition from gavage to full spoon feeding in preterm infants. METHODS:Preterm neonates born between 28 + 0–32 + 6 weeks gestation (n = 32) were randomised into an intervention group (premature infant oral motor intervention) for five minutes twice a day along with routine care (n = 16) and a control group (routine care, n = 16) once they reached a feed volume of at least 150 ml/kg/day administered by gavage method. The primary outcome measure was time (in days) to transition from gavage to full spoon feeds. RESULTS:The mean (SD) time to transition from gavage to full spoon feeds was attained significantly earlier in the intervention group than the control group (9.93 [5.83] vs 16.43 [10.46] days; mean difference, -6.5 days; 95% CI, -12.58 to -0.41). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of hospital stay, rates of physiological stability, and culture positive sepsis. CONCLUSION:Premature infant oral motor intervention, as used in this specific population, significantly reduces the time to transition to full spoon feeds without increasing culture positive sepsis and physiological instability.
