Effect of Abdominal Massage on Gastric Residual Volume and Weight Gain of Premature Infants Admitted in NICU

Introduction: One of the most important problems of premature infants and main reason of hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is their low birth weight. They need gavage for feeding which has several side effects. Thus choosing appropriate nutritional interventions in premature infants decreases gavage-related complications and results in lower duration of hospitalization. Methods: In this clinical trial study premature infants were randomly allocated to two intervention and control groups. Both groups underwent routine care. Intervention group infants received abdominal massage ۱۵ minutes twice a day for five days by a trained physiotherapist using moisturizing lotion based on the method described in previous studies. Results: Eventually ۲۸ infants (۱۵ male and ۱۳ female) with a mean gestational age of ۳۲.۴۳±۱.۱۶ weeks in intervention and ۳۳±۰.۸۸ weeks in control group underwent analysis (p=۰.۱۵). Mean gastric residual volume was ۰.۷۱±۱.۱۳ ml in intervention and ۱.۴۳±۱.۵۵ ml in control group prior to intervention (p=۰.۲). It was ۱.۹۳±۲.۴۳ ml in intervention and ۴.۷۱±۴.۲۵ ml in control group in the fifth day of intervention (p=۰.۰۴). Before intervention, mean weight was ۱۸۳۰±۳۳۰ gr in intervention and ۱۸۷۰±۳۷۰ gr in control group (p=۰.۸۲). In the fifth day of intervention mean weight was ۱۸۷۱±۳۲۳.۱۵ gr in intervention group and ۱۷۶۷±۳۴۷.۲۴ gr in control group (p=۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: In conclusion our findings suggest that abdominal massage efficiently decreases gastric residual volume and helps with weight gain in preterm infants.

کلیدواژه ها:

Abdominal Massage ، Gastric Residual Volume ، Premature Infant ، Weight gain