The effect of skin‐to‐skin care on cerebral oxygenation during nasogastric feeding of preterm infants. (22nd December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marulli, A; Kamlin, COF; Dawson, JA; Donath, SM; Davis, PG; Lorenz, L
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 107:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 430
• Page End: 435
• Publication Date: 2017-12-22
• Subjects: Cerebral oxygenation -- Gavage feeding -- Near‐infrared spectroscopy -- Preterm -- Skin‐to‐skin care; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.14158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To describe cerebral oxygenation during gavage feeding of preterm infants during incubator and skin‐to‐skin care. Methods: Further analysis of data from two crossover studies comparing cerebral oxygenation, heart rate and oxygen saturation during skin‐to‐skin care with incubator care. Data were analysed in three epochs; 10 minutes prefeed, during‐feed and 10 minutes postfeed. Measurements from infants fed during incubator care were compared with those obtained during skin‐to‐skin care. Results: In 39 infants [median (IQR) 27.8 (26.1–30.0) weeks' gestation], there was no difference in cerebral oxygenation between pre‐, during‐ and postfeed. Heart rate increased by three beats per minute postfeed compared with during‐feed. Twenty infants received two gavage feeds, one feed in the incubator and another during skin‐to‐skin care. There was no difference in cerebral oxygenation and heart rate; peripheral oxygen saturation decreased by 3% during feeding whilst skin‐to‐skin care compared with feeding in the incubator. Conclusion: Cerebral oxygenation remained stable before, during and after gavage feeding in an incubator and during skin‐to‐skin care. The small decrease in oxygen saturation whilst receiving gavage feeding during skin‐to‐skin care is unlikely to be clinically important, providing reassurance that preterm infants maintain physiological stability during skin‐to‐skin care.