OROFACIAL PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION IN PRETERM INFANTS A DESCRIPTIVE AND CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: physiotherapy intervention consisting of oral, perioral, and non-nutritive suction stimulation is a tool applied in preterm new-borns to accelerate the achievement of full oral feeding (tube removal). Objectives: to des-cribe the postmenstrual age of acquisition of full oral feeding through orofacial intervention in preterm neonates and to associate it to their degree of prematurity and early treatment initiation. Material and methods: prospective, lon-gitudinal, descriptive and correlational study carried out in the Neonatal Unit of Hospital Universitario Miguel Ser-vet in Zaragoza, in premature infants with tube. The inclusion criterion was being premature and using nasogastric tube feeding. The exclusion criteria were the presence of serious associated pathology and the existence of different syndromes. Results: the sample included 145 preterm infants, of which 20 % were extremely premature (n = 29), 51.70 % very premature (n = 75) and 28.30 % moderately premature (n = 41). The mean number of weeks of postmenstrual age at which they achieved full oral feeding was 35.90 ± 2.03 (n =145). A very strong positive correlation (rho = 0.774) was observed between the age of initiation of treatment and the age at which full oral feeding was achieved, especially in the moderately preterm group (rho = 0.841). Conclusion: the application of the suction and swallow protocol allows preterm infants to achieve full oral feeding before term birth. This intervention, if carried out early shortens the times for its achievement, especially in the moderately premature group.