Positioning after feedings: what is the evidence to reduce feeding intolerances?

The knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses on the posture management of premature infants: status quo and coping strategies

BACKGROUND

Posture management is very important in the nursing care of premature infants. This study aimed to investigate the status quo and influencing factors of knowledge, attitude and practice in posture management of premature infants among neonatal nurses.

METHODS

This study included the nurses worked in the department of neonates of our hospital as the survey population from May 1 to 25, 2023. The general information questionnaire and the neonatal nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire were used to collect data. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the factors influencing the knowledge, attitude and behavior of posture managements.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-two neonatal nurses were surveyed in this study. The average knowledge, attitude and behavior score on the posture management were (57.21 ± 6.33), (30.86 ± 5.61) and (52.25 ± 7.18) respectively. There were positive correlations in the nurses' knowledge, attitude and behavior scores on the posture management (all P < 0.05). Years of work experience, marital status and had accepted premature infants posture management training were the independent factors influencing knowledge, attitude and behavior on the posture management of premature infants in neonatal nurses (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal nurses attach great importance to the posture management of premature infants, but their knowledge and skills need to be improved, and there are many related influencing factors. Nursing managers should strengthen the training related to the postural management of premature infants and improve their knowledge and ability of posture management of premature infants.

The Effects of Different Nursing Positions During Preterm Infants Feeding on Gastric Residual Volume and Emptying Rate: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Preterm infants need nutritional support due to their premature digestive system, undeveloped anatomy and functional limitations. Neonatal positioning in the proper position is one of the nurses' main principles that affect the residual volume. We performed our systematic review and network meta-analysis to determine the best feeding position for preterm infants in reducing gastric residual volume and increasing the rate of gastric emptying.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, CINHAL, Scopus and Web of Science from their inception to August 2023. We included studies that assess the effect of different feeding positions for preterm infants on gastric residuals. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (ROB2) appraised the included clinical trials. Cohort studies were assessed by the NIH tool and quasi-experimental studies by the relevant items from (Downs and Black) checklist. RevMan Version 5.4 was used for analysing the pooled data. Our study included a frequentist network meta-analysis of the aggregate data to obtain network estimates for the outcomes of interest. Network meta-analysis was done using R software.

RESULTS

We included 16 studies with 1139 premature infants, comparing six preterm feeding positions. The pooled MD and 95% CI for GRV at 30 min for right lateral, prone, right anterior oblique and left lateral compared to supine position were as follows: (-12.08 [-20.09, -4.07]), (-11.14 [-18.26, -4.01]), (-9.02 [-21.66, 3.61]) and (-0.18 [-7.87, 7.5]), respectively. Moreover, the pooled MD and 95% CI for GRV at 180 min for right lateral, prone and left lateral compared to supine position were as follows: (-0.69 [-1.29, -0.09]), (-0.56 [-1.22, 0.1]) and (0.09 [-0.63, 0.81]), respectively. Nevertheless, the pooled MD and 95% CI for GRV at 120 min for right anterior oblique, prone, right lateral and left lateral compared to supine position were as follows: (-6.09 [-11.33, -0.86]), (-5.07 [-7.71, -2.43]), (-3.08 [-5.89, -0.27]) and (-0.44 [-3.41, 2.53]), respectively.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the best nursing position after preterm infants feeding for lower gastric residuals and higher gastric emptying rate is the right lateral position after 30 and 180 min post-feeding. Also, the right anterior oblique was the best after 120 min. Although the prone position can lower the GRV better than the left lateral and supine positions, it is not advisable to use this position because it raises the SIDS risk. Our results could help healthcare professionals to provide the appropriate positioning of preterm infants.

Management of Enteral Feeding and Application of Probiotics in Very Low Birth Weight Infants - A National Survey in German NICUs

BACKGROUND

The advantage of breast milk feeding, and supplementation of probiotics is well known and proven. However, the lack of reliable amounts of colostrum and/or transient breast milk during the first few postnatal days might inhibit timely enteral nutrition.

METHODS

The aim of this nationwide survey in German Level-1 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) was to collect data regarding the management of feeding in the first days of life in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs, birth weight<1500 g). In addition, we analyzed differences in the use of probiotics. An online survey was sent to all 163 Level-1 NICUs in Germany.

RESULTS

110/163 (67.5%) hospitals participated in our study. One-fifth of all participants used exclusively breast milk. The reported incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was lower in NICUs that exclusively used breast milk in VLBWIs (p=0.08). Two-thirds start enteral feeding independent of gestational age during the first 12 hours postnatally with either breast milk or formula. 80% of all participants checked gastric residuals routinely. The use of probiotics differs widely concerning duration and interruption during antibiotic therapy.

CONCLUSION

The exclusive use of breast milk is associated with a lower incidence of NEC. The result of our survey emphasizes the paramount importance of nutrition with mother`s milk. In case of insufficient availability of mother`s milk, the use of human donor milk still appears to be superior to formula feeding. The implementation of human donor milk banks should therefore be promoted.

Effect of different positions on gastric residuals in preterm infants initiating full enteral feeding

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding in different positions on the gastric residual volume after feeding in preterm infants who initiated full enteral feeding.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted with the hypothesis that testing the right lateral position leads to less gastric residual than left lateral position and the prone position leads to less gastric residual than the supine position. The data were collected in four stages from 35 preterm infants. Initially, the infants were positioned in supine position and were fed. After feeding, the infant rested in the supine position for 3 h. The stomach content was aspirated, and the volume of gastric residual was measured at the 60th, 120th, and 180th min after feeding. These steps are repeated in order of in the right lateral, left lateral, and prone position. Total gastric residual volume and type of enteral feeding were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference among the positions in terms of the volume of gastric residuals in the measurements made at 60th (P = 9.552), 120th (P = .505), and 180th min (P = .430). When the amount of decrease in the gastric residual volumes was a significant difference between all measurement times in right lateral and prone positions (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Although no significant difference was determined between the positions, the smallest residual volumes were determined in the right lateral and prone positions. The amount of decrease in residual volume was significant in right lateral and prone positions.

Does the Post-Feeding Position Affect Gastric Residue in Preterm Infants?

BACKGROUND

Body position affects the gastric emptying rate and hence the amount of gastric residue.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the effect of the post-feeding position of preterm infants on gastric residue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experimental study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a university hospital (İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center) in Eastern Turkey. The study included 40 preterm infants weighing less than 2,000 g, who were fed orogastrically. The preterm infants were sequentially placed in four positions and were fed before each change of position. The infants were sequentially placed in the right lateral, left lateral, supine, and prone positions; their gastric residues were measured with a nasogastric tube. The gastric residue was recorded in percentages at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Ethical principles were applied in all phases of the study.

RESULTS

The lowest mean gastric residue level was observed in the right lateral position at 30 minutes (58.16 ± 12.71%) and 60 minutes (33.97 ± 15.00%). The prone position showed the lowest mean gastric residue level (1.74 ± 1.08%), followed by the right lateral (3.06 ± 1.97%), supine (3.53 ± 2.18%), and left lateral position (5.14 ± 1.85%) at 120 minutes. The final measurements were taken at 180 minutes with the right lateral position showing the lowest mean gastric residue level (0.38 ± 0.34%).

CONCLUSION

The premature infants had similar lower levels of gastric residue in the right lateral and prone positions and higher levels of gastric residue in left lateral and supine positions. The gastric emptying rate was found to be highest in the right lateral position at 30, 60, and 180 minutes and in the prone position at 120 minutes.

Refluxo gastroesofágico e deglutição em recém nascidos e lactentes: revisão integrativa da literatura

Resumo: O refluxo gastroesofágico é encontrado em 25% dos bebês e pode acarretar vários prejuízos para o desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão integrativa da literatura buscando verificar se há publicações relacionando alterações da deglutição com o quadro de refluxo gastroesofágico em recém-nascidos e lactentes. A pesquisa foi realizada consultando os sites da Bireme e da PubMed. Os unitermos utilizados foram refluxo gastroesofágico, recém-nascido e lactente, em português e os correspondentes em inglês. Os descritores foram utilizados pareados, pois isolados abrangia muitos textos com temáticas diferentes da de interesse. Os trabalhos selecionados foram dos últimos dez anos. Não houve limite de tempo. De 1184 artigos da Bireme e 1600 da PubMed analisados a partir da aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, restaram 23 artigos, sendo a maioria voltada aos sinais, sintomas e diagnóstico do RGE. Dois artigos abordaram o RGE e a deglutição, demonstrando que pode haver ou não relação entre RGE e disfagia orofaríngea em recém nascidos e lactentes, sendo que a escassez de pesquisas com essa temática demonstrou a necessidade de novos estudos abordando os aspectos patofisiológicos envolvidos.