Non-Nutritive Suck Parameter in Preterm Infants with RDS

Authors

Meredith Estep, University of Kansas
Steven M. Barlow, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rajesh Vantipalli, University of Kansas
Donald Finan, University of Colorado Boulder
Jaehoon Lee, University of KansasFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2008

Citation

J Neonatal Nurs. 2008 February ; 14(1): 28–34.

Comments

Copyright © 2007 Neonatal Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract

Objective—To characterize the integrity of non-nutritive suck (NNS) parameters among three groups of preterm infants ranging from normal to those with progressive degrees of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Study Design—NNS compression waveforms were sampled from 55 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit using a silicone pacifier electronically instrumented for intraluminal pressure. Seven select NNS parameters were measured at two different sessions, and statistically analyzed using a General Linear Model Analysis of Covariance.

Results and Conclusions—Preterm infants with a more extensive history of RDS and oxygen therapy manifest significantly (p≤0.001) degraded performance on six of the seven NNS measures. This trend was disproportionately amplified in preterm infants with moderate-to-severe RDS. Prolonged periods of RDS requiring oxygen therapy may cause maladaptive orosensory experiences, and restrict oral movements which may contribute to delayed NNS development.