Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the desaturation events with the presence and absence of a nasogastric tube during an entire oral feeding in 20 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. DESIGN: Prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment. SETTING: Midwestern, university-affiliated, tertiary neonatal medical center. PATIENTS: Twenty VLBW infants without severe neurologic problems or physical anomalies. On the day of the study, postnatal days were 17 to 82 days (49 ± 18.91). OUTCOME MEASURES: Desaturation events. INTERVENTION: These infants were observed during oral feedings, once with a nasogastric tube and once without, at 9 AM and 3 PM feedings within 1 day, decided in random order. RESULTS: Fifteen infants experienced 166 desaturation events (< 90%), 83 desaturation events without the nasogastric tube, and 83 events with the nasogastric tube present. Infants for whom desaturation events developed had a longer transition period from tube feedings to oral feedings (p < 0.05), and started feedings with lower oxygen saturation (p < 0.05). Nearly all desaturation events (97%) occurred with breathing pauses (11.32 ± 6.67 seconds), a change in heart rate, and an increase in end-tidal CO2. The presence of a nasogastric tube increased the duration of desaturation by an average of 8 seconds (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Infants' oxygen saturation needs to be monitored with feedings, and feedings may need to be started with a baseline lowest saturation of 95% or higher, monitored with breathing and heart rate to prevent desaturation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 236-245 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine