Effect of Non-Nutritive Sucking on the Oxygen Saturation Level and Behavioral State of Preterm Infants during Tube Feeding

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of non-nutritive sucking (NNS) on the oxygen saturation level and behavioral state of preterm infants during tube feeding. METHODS: This study was performed prospectively in the NICU, Chonbuk National University Hopspital from November, 2004 through April, 2005. Preterm infants of gestational age 28 to 37 weeks, who had neither major congenital defects interfering feeding nor respiratory difficulty needing ventilatory support, were included. A total of 64 subjects were divided randomly into the control group (n=32), and the non-nutritive sucking (NNS) group (n=32). The patients in each group were tested for changes in oxygen saturation and behavioral state at 3 different times; 2 minutes before, during, and 2 minutes after feeding. RESULTS: The oxygen saturation of the NNS group increased during feeding and gradually decreased after feeding while the control group decreased during feeding and increased slightly after feeding (P<0.001). During feeding, the "quiet awake" state was observed more frequently in the NNS group and the "crying" state was observed more frequently in the control group. During the post-feeding assessment, the "sleep" state was more frequent in the NNS group and the "crying" state was more frequent in the control group. CONCLUSION: The infants in the NNS group showed significantly higher oxygen saturation level and they were less fussy during tube feeding and slept better after feeding.