Influence of the endotracheal tube on the feeding performance and signs of stress in preterm infants

Abstract

To verify the influence of endotracheal tube on feeding performance, signs of stress and the time to the acquisition of full oral feeding in preterm infants. We conducted an analytical observational study enrolling 45 preterm infants divided in two groups: babies who needed to use endotracheal tube (n=16) and those who did not need to use it (n=29). At the first oral feeding, the proficiency, rate of milk transfer, total feeding performance, signs of stress (cyanosis, pallor, bradycardia and/or decrease in oxygen saturation) were evaluated, as well as the days from the start to independent oral feeding. The data were analyzed using the software Stata 10, with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation, test t-Student and Fischer’s exact test). It was considered significant a p value <0, 05. The proficiency, the rate of milk transfer and the total feeding performance in the first oral feeding were significantly lower in the group that used endotracheal tube. Likewise, preterm babies who did not use endotracheal tube spent half the time to obtain full oral feeding compared with those who used it (10,8 ± 8,4X27,6 ± 17,7 days, respectively) (p<0,001). There was no difference between the groups related to signs of stress during the first oral feeding. It was concluded that the use of endotracheal tube negatively influenced the feeding performance and prolonged the time to acquisition of full oral feeding in preterm infants.