Performance on Paladai Feeding of Preterm Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feeding performance of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on paladai.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed in a level III neonatal unit in North India from March through August 2012. Nineteen infants (27-32 wk of gestation) were enrolled; 9 in BPD group (oxygen requirement for at least 28 d) and 10 in No BPD' group. Paladai feeding (PF) sessions were video recorded for 3 d serially, at first successful (FSF) at postnatal age of 28 d and follow up feeding (FUF) at 402 wk. Successful feeding was defined as 80% intake of volume prescribed. One hundred and four videos were analysed (58 in BPD group and 46 in No BPD' group). The outcome variables were: (1) postmenstrual age (PMA) at FSF (2) feeding performance, as assessed by proficiency (mL/min, volume of feed intake during only active feeding), efficiency (mL/min, volume of feed intake during total duration of feeding) and overall feed transfer (OT, % of prescribed feed volume taken), and (3) change in heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) on PF.ResultsPMA (Weeks, 34.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 33.6 +/- 1.2, p=0.13), performance on FSF [Median (range), Proficiency: ml/min, 4.2 (1.1, 21.7) vs. 3.4 (1.1, 12.4), efficiency: ml/min, 2.7 (0.4, 6.2) vs. 2.5 (0.9, 10.9)] and OT (%, mean +/- SD: 84.9 +/- 22.5 vs. 89.1 +/- 9.6), and on FUF were comparable between the groups. Changes in SpO(2) and HR were not significantly different.Conclusions p id=Par4 Infants with BPD perform comparably well on PF. PF can safely be attempted in them to facilitate transition to oral feeding.