Table 2.
Main features of trials and observational studies assessing preterm infants with oral dysfunction or comorbidities
| Author, Year | Study Design | Sample Size | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menezes, 2018 [60] | Observational study | Cross-sectional study on 38 preterm infants to investigate difficulties in CF in premature infants | Nearly 75% of preterm infants experienced at least one defensive behaviour at mealtime (e.g., refusal to open their mouth, food selectivity, and feeding refusal). |
| Pahsini, 2018 [37] | Observational study | Evaluation of prematurity rate among 711 tube dependent children from the program based on the “Graz Model of tube weaning” | According to ICD-10 classification, 378 children (53.2%) were born prematurely, with 103 infants < 29 weeks’ GA and 275 between 29 and 36 + 6 weeks’ GA. |
| Kamitsuka, 2017 [38] | Observational study | Assessment of the impact of an oral feeding protocol (OFP) on the number of infants requiring home tube feeds: the study included 129 infants before the protocol implementation and 141 infants afterwards | After introducing the OFP, oral feedings were started earlier, full oral feedings were achieved sooner, and the incidence of home tube feeds at discharge was reduced. |
| Sanchez, 2016 [39] | Observational study | Evaluation of oro-motor feeding at 12 months’ CA in 90 infants born before 30 weeks’ GA vs. 137 term-born peers | Preterm infants featured greater odds of oro-motor feeding problems at 12 months’ CA. Neonatal surgery was documented as risk factor for feeding difficulties. |
| Malhotra, 1999 [63] | Cross-over controlled trial | Assessment of bottle, cup and a traditional feeding device (‘paladai’) in 100 infants (n = 66 term AGA infants, n = 20 term SGA infants, and n = 14 preterm infants) | Infants took the maximum volume in the least time and kept quiet the longest with the paladai. Spilling was the highest with the cup, especially in preterm infants. |
AGA appropriate for gestational age, CA corrected age, CF complementary feeding, GA gestational age, OFP oral feeding protocol, SGA small for gestational age.