Nasal Versus Oral Feeding Tube Placement: Selected Outcomes among Preterm Infants

Abstract

Background: Enteral feeding tubes for preterm infants may be placed via either the nose or mouth. Nasal tube
placement may compromise respiration, however, orally placed tubes may be more prone to displacement.
The Aim: The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of nasal versus oral placement of enteral
feeding tubes on weight and the incidence of adverse events among preterm infants.
Method: A descriptive comparative study design was utilized.
Sample: A convenient sample of sixty physiologically stable preterm were assigned to two equal groups
within six months (between July 2018 – Jan. 2019). They were recruited from neonatal intensive care units
of both Kasr Alainy and El-Monira Pediatric Hospitals-Cairo University.
Tools: Three tools were developed by the researchers: preterm infant’s characteristics, observational checklist
for incidence of adverse events and recording sheet for daily weight and time to sustain full oral feeding.
Procedure: The researches recorded preterm infant’s characteristics, any adverse events, weight and time to
sustain full oral feeding in the morning shift twice a week for two weeks.
Results: Orogastric tube feeding was statistically significant different compared to nasogastric tube feeding
regarding displacement. There was no difference among two groups in weight gain, time to reach full feeds
and frequency of adverse events. Orogastric tube feeding group had lesser duration of hospital stay than
nasogastric and orogastric tube feeding group reached to full oral feeds quickly compared to nasogastric
with no statistical significant differences.
Recommendation: Further researches with a larger population would probably be required to know the
significance of this outcome.
Conclusion: This study concluded that no differences were found between both orogastric and nasogastric
tube feeding on preterm infants’ weight, incidence of adverse events and time to sustain full oral feeding.