Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants

Background: Incorrect placement, or subsequent displacement, of feeding tubes into the lower oesophagus or into the lung can lead to aspiration, respiratory compromise, and increased energy expenditure. These effects are potentially detrimental to growth and development. Enteral feeding tubes passed...

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Main Authors: N Kamalakar Rao, S Udaykanth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
Series:MRIMS Journal of Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mrimsjournal.com/article.asp?issn=2321-7006;year=2015;volume=3;issue=3;spage=190;epage=195;aulast=Rao;type=0
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author N Kamalakar Rao
S Udaykanth
author_facet N Kamalakar Rao
S Udaykanth
author_sort N Kamalakar Rao
collection DOAJ
description Background: Incorrect placement, or subsequent displacement, of feeding tubes into the lower oesophagus or into the lung can lead to aspiration, respiratory compromise, and increased energy expenditure. These effects are potentially detrimental to growth and development. Enteral feeding tubes passed via the nose may be easier to secure to the face than orally placed tubes. In children, orally placed enteral tubes are more frequently malpositioned compared to nasally placed tubes.6 Furthermore, orally placed tubes may be easier to displace as they can loop inside the mouth. Objective: To determine the effect of nasal compared with oral placement of enteral feeding tubes on feeding, growth and the incidence of adverse consequences in preterm or low birth weight infants. Methods: Preterm neonates admitted to NICU during the study period were stabilized initially (temperature, perfusion, respiratory status, blood sugars) and feeds were started. Infants were randomised to receive either nasogastric or orogastric feeding. Feeds were given over 10 - 20 minutes by gravity drainage every two or three hours. Results: Nasogastric tube feeding appears to be superior to orogastric tube feeding with less frequency of tube displacement. There is no difference among 2 groups in time to regain birth weight, time to full feeds, and frequency of adverse events. Nasogastric tube feeding group had lesser duration of hospital stay compared to the orogastric tube group, and orogastric tube feeding group reached to oral feeds quickly compared to nasogastric tube feeding group, however, this was not statistically significant. Further good quality randomised controlled trials with a larger population would probably be required to know the significance of this outcome. Conclusion: This study provides sufficient evidence to practice nasogastric tube feeding over orogastric tube feeding in preterm or low birth weight infants.
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spelling doaj.art-a410f9d1307640c59a7e139fb56e0be82022-12-22T00:43:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMRIMS Journal of Health Sciences2321-70062321-72942015-01-013319019510.4103/2321-7006.302231Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infantsN Kamalakar RaoS UdaykanthBackground: Incorrect placement, or subsequent displacement, of feeding tubes into the lower oesophagus or into the lung can lead to aspiration, respiratory compromise, and increased energy expenditure. These effects are potentially detrimental to growth and development. Enteral feeding tubes passed via the nose may be easier to secure to the face than orally placed tubes. In children, orally placed enteral tubes are more frequently malpositioned compared to nasally placed tubes.6 Furthermore, orally placed tubes may be easier to displace as they can loop inside the mouth. Objective: To determine the effect of nasal compared with oral placement of enteral feeding tubes on feeding, growth and the incidence of adverse consequences in preterm or low birth weight infants. Methods: Preterm neonates admitted to NICU during the study period were stabilized initially (temperature, perfusion, respiratory status, blood sugars) and feeds were started. Infants were randomised to receive either nasogastric or orogastric feeding. Feeds were given over 10 - 20 minutes by gravity drainage every two or three hours. Results: Nasogastric tube feeding appears to be superior to orogastric tube feeding with less frequency of tube displacement. There is no difference among 2 groups in time to regain birth weight, time to full feeds, and frequency of adverse events. Nasogastric tube feeding group had lesser duration of hospital stay compared to the orogastric tube group, and orogastric tube feeding group reached to oral feeds quickly compared to nasogastric tube feeding group, however, this was not statistically significant. Further good quality randomised controlled trials with a larger population would probably be required to know the significance of this outcome. Conclusion: This study provides sufficient evidence to practice nasogastric tube feeding over orogastric tube feeding in preterm or low birth weight infants.http://www.mrimsjournal.com/article.asp?issn=2321-7006;year=2015;volume=3;issue=3;spage=190;epage=195;aulast=Rao;type=0nasogastric tubeorogastric tubeinfants
spellingShingle N Kamalakar Rao
S Udaykanth
Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
MRIMS Journal of Health Sciences
nasogastric tube
orogastric tube
infants
title Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
title_full Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
title_fullStr Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
title_full_unstemmed Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
title_short Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
title_sort nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
topic nasogastric tube
orogastric tube
infants
url http://www.mrimsjournal.com/article.asp?issn=2321-7006;year=2015;volume=3;issue=3;spage=190;epage=195;aulast=Rao;type=0
work_keys_str_mv AT nkamalakarrao nasalversusoralrouteforplacingfeedingtubesinpretermorlowbirthweightinfants
AT sudaykanth nasalversusoralrouteforplacingfeedingtubesinpretermorlowbirthweightinfants