Performance on Paladai Feeding of Preterm Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

This 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 40 ± 2 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 (∆SpO₂) on PF.

PMA (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 SpO₂ and HR were not significantly different.

Infants with BPD perform comparably well on PF. PF can safely be attempted in them to facilitate transition to oral feeding.