Health professionals’ preference in the neonatal intensive care unit by nasogastric or orogastric probes

Abstract

Introduction: The nasogastric tube is an important procedure in the nutrition of preterm. Objective: To identify the health professionals’ preference in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (UTIN) in relation to the choice of type of probe feeding: nasogastric (SNG) or orogastric (SOG). Methods: Took part of this study, 38 health professionals’ working in the UTIN divided into two groups: GSOG, professionals who prefer the orogastric tube and GSNG, professionals who prefer the nasogastric tube. The research instrument was a questionnaire composed of questions that cover: identification, training, titration, place of work and, issues relating to probe more used in the UTIN, and supporting the training in the best probe of feeding. Results: The preference for SNG and SOG are both 50%. The most mentioned justification for the choice of type of probe by the GSNG was: it facilitates the orofacial stimulation and the non-nutritive sucking (68.4%) and the stimulus to suction in the maternal breast (57.9%). For the GSOG the justifications were: it does not interfere in nasal breathing (84.2%) and causes fewer traumas in the nasal cavity (78.9%). Conclusion: It was possible to observe that half of the professionals consulted prefer the SOG, because it doesn’t interfere with nasal breathing, causes fewer traumas in the nasal cavity and provides better fixation. The other half of the professionals interviewed prefers the SNG, since it facilitates orofacial stimulation and non-nutritive sucking and the sucking stimulation in the maternal breast..