Short-Term Effects of Hydrokinesiotherapy in Hospitalized Preterm Newborns.

Welcy Cassiano De Oliveira Tobinaga,Agnaldo José Lopes,Vera Lucia Barros Abelenda,Paula Morisco De Sá,Cirlene De Lima Marinho

doi:10.1155/2016/9285056

Abstract

Background. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment, preterm newborns are subject to environmental stress and numerous painful interventions. It is known that hydrokinesiotherapy promotes comfort and reduces stress because of the physiological properties of water. Objective. To evaluate the short-term effects of hydrokinesiotherapy on reducing stress in preterm newborns admitted to the NICU. Materials and Methods. Fifteen preterm newborns underwent salivary cortisol measurement, pain evaluation using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and heart rate, respiratory rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation measurements before and after the application of hydrokinesiotherapy. Results. The mean gestational age of the newborns was 34.2 ± 1.66 weeks, and the mean weight was 1823.3 ± 437.4 g. Immediately after application of hydrokinesiotherapy, a significant reduction was observed in salivary cortisol (p = 0.004), heart rate (p = 0.003), and respiratory rate (p = 0.004) and a significant increase was observed in peripheral oxygen saturation (p = 0.002). However, no significant difference was observed in the NIPS score (p > 0.05). Conclusion. In the present study, neonatal hydrotherapy promoted short-term relief from feelings of stress. Neonatal hydrokinesiotherapy may be a therapeutic alternative. However, this therapy needs to be studied in randomized, crossover, and blinded trials. This trial is registered with NCT02707731.

Highlights

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Brazil has experienced major technological breakthroughs in recent years, following the global trend
Infants may feel pain with even more intensity than children and adults because of their immature inhibitory control mechanisms, which hamper their ability to modulate the pain experience [3]. During their hospital stay in the NICU, preterm newborns are subject to numerous painful interventions necessary for their survival
Between July 2015 and February 2016, we evaluated 29 preterm newborns hospitalized in the NICU of the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who underwent hydrokinesiotherapy

Summary

Introduction

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Brazil has experienced major technological breakthroughs in recent years, following the global trend These breakthroughs have contributed to a considerable decrease in mortality rates, allowing preterm newborns, especially those with low birth weight, to survive [1]. Infants may feel pain with even more intensity than children and adults because of their immature inhibitory control mechanisms, which hamper their ability to modulate the pain experience [3] During their hospital stay in the NICU, preterm newborns are subject to numerous painful interventions necessary for their survival. Fifteen preterm newborns underwent salivary cortisol measurement, pain evaluation using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and heart rate, respiratory rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation measurements before and after the application of hydrokinesiotherapy.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion