Effect of Right Position During and After Feeding on Gastric Residual Volume and Regurgitation Episodes Among Preterm Infants

Abstract

Body position affects the gastric emptying rate and feeding regimen manipulation have been shown to affect the episodes of regurgitation. Aim: to investigate the effect of right position during and after on gastric residual volume and regurgitation episodes among preterm infants. Method: a quasi-experimental design was utilized. A convenient sample of 90 preterm infants on gavage feeding was randomly allocated into three groups (30 supine position, 30 right 1 position after feeding time and 30 right 2 position during and after feeding time). The study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of El Manial and Pediatric University Hospital, Cairo University Hospitals. The following tool utilized to collect the required data: preterm infant's characteristics sheet and record for gastric residual volume, regurgitation episodes and feeding. Results: More than half of the preterm infants in supine and half of them in right1 and right 2 groups were males. There is no statistically significant difference in the mean gestational age of preterm infants in supine, right 1 and right 2 groups. The mean gastric residual for preterm infants in right 2 position is the least volume than in right 1 and supine positions. Conclusion: A highly statistically significant difference was found in the mean of gastric residual volume in supine, right 1 and right 2 positions at different feeding time. No significant difference was detected in occurrence of regurgitation between the three positions while the least occurrence of regurgitation in right 2 position when compared to other positions. Recommendation: The current study recommended that preterm infants could be placed in right side during and after gavage feeding.