NASAL GASTRIC TUBE PLACEMENT: EFFECT ON SUCKING AND BREATHING IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS.
Contributors: Case Western Reserve University.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 201
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purposes of this ground-breaking study were: (1) to compare the effect of presence and absence of NG tube on sucking and breathing, and (2) to describe the relationship of sucking and breathing with age and weight, with and without the NG tube, in VLBW infants. It was hypothesized that presence of a NG tube during bottle feeding would have a negative effect on sucking and breathing for VLBW infants.

In this randomized block, within-subject design, 18 VLBW infants who met study criteria were observed during routinely scheduled feedings, twice within one day but not consecutively, once with NG tube and once without in random order. Two different sucking periods were analyzed. Continuous sucking (CS) was at the beginning of the feeding with one continuous sucking burst. Intermittent sucking (IS) was a period of sucking when sucking bursts alternated with sucking pauses.

Breathing and sucking measures were compared with NG tube absent and NG tube present using one-tailed paired t tests. During the prefeed period, minute ventilation and tidal volume were significantly lower (p $<$.05) with the tube in place. Minute ventilation and tidal volume continued to be lower with tube during the CS. In addition, pulse rate and oxygen saturation were lower with tube during the CS. With tube, infants also sucked less forcefully, therefore, took less formula during the CS and IS periods. Furthermore, with tube, infants sucked less frequently during the IS period. All 18 infants with tube had a breathing pause of at least 3 seconds during the CS, whereas, only 12 infants had the breathing pause without tube, indicating a negative effect on sucking and breathing rhythmicity with the tube in place. Based on these findings, clinicians are urged to closely monitor VLBW infants with a NG tube in place during the CS for breathing pause, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation. This study is the first study to provide information about the effect of a NG tube on minute ventilation, oxygen saturation, and sucking activities for VLBW infants. Research in this area should be focused on sucking and breathing rhythmicity development in VLBW infants by investigating innovative nasogastric tube practices.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-04, Section: B, page: 1381.

Thesis (PH.D.)--CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, 1994.

School code: 0042.