Transition from gavage to nipple feeding for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: The transition from gavage to nipple feeding is difficult for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia because of tachypnea and hypoxemia from chronic respiratory distress.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who transitioned from gavage to nipple feeding with the semidemand method would achieve nipple feeding sooner and be discharged from hospital sooner than control infants who received standard care.

Methods: Forty-two infants were randomized to the control condition and 44 to the experimental protocol.

Heart rate variability responses to nipple feeding for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: three case studies.

Preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have cardiorespiratory compromise that prolongs the transition time from gavage to nipple feeding. Heart rate variability (HRV) provides an indirect measure of the autonomic nervous system's influence on heart rate and cardiorespiratory stability. The purpose of this case study was to describe HRV responses of three preterm infants with BPD during the transition from gavage to nipple feeding.