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Cortical hemodynamic activity and pain perception during insertion of feeding tubes in preterm neonates: a randomized controlled cross-over trial

Abstract

Objective

The present study evaluated the pain perception in preterm neonates during insertion of orogastric (OG) vs. nasogastric (NG) tube by measuring the cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2) and premature infant pain profile-revised (PIPP-R) score.

Study design

Randomized controlled cross-over trial.

Results

Fifty infants of mean (SD) gestational age of 31.54(2) and 31.64(2.2) weeks, birth weight of 1362(354) and 1507(365) grams were randomized into OG/NG (n = 25) and NG/OG (n = 25) sequences. Mean post-menstrual age at assessment was 33(2.8) and 33(1.5) weeks, and the difference between two interventions was 1.08(0.5) and 1.12(0.5) days in OG-NG and NG-OG, respectively. Mean crSO2(%) during insertion was significantly lower with NG compared to OG route. Mean PIPP-R score, heart rate variability, time to normalize crSO2, and the duration of cry were also significantly higher with NG insertion.

Conclusions

Compared to OG, NG route of feeding tube insertion was associated with higher fluctuations in crSO2 and higher PIPP-R scores.

Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) Registration No

CTRI/2020/03/023728.

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Fig. 1: Flow of participants (CONSORT diagram).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

SB, JU, SK, and PS conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated, and supervised data collection, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. JU and SK collected all the data. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sriparna Basu.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Upadhyay, J., Kumar, S., Singh, P. et al. Cortical hemodynamic activity and pain perception during insertion of feeding tubes in preterm neonates: a randomized controlled cross-over trial. J Perinatol 42, 121–125 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01166-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01166-8

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