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 15 minutes twice a day for five days by a trained physiotherapist using moisturizing lotion based on the method described in previous studies. Results: Eventually 28 infants (15 male and 13 female) with a mean gestational age of 32.43±1.16 weeks in intervention and 33±0.88 weeks in control group underwent analysis (p=0.15). Mean gastric residual volume was 0.71±1.13 ml in intervention and 1.43±1.55 ml in control group prior to intervention (p=0.2). It was 1.93±2.43 ml in intervention and 4.71±4.25 ml in control group in the fifth day of intervention (p=0.04). Before intervention, mean weight was 1830±330 gr in intervention and 1870±370 gr in control group (p=0.82). In the fifth day of intervention mean weight was 1871±323.15 gr in intervention group and 1767±347.24 gr in control group (p=0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion our findings suggest that abdominal massage efficiently decreases gastric residual volume and helps with weight gain in preterm infants.

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

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