Effect of Successive Abdominal Massage on Feeding Intolerance and Daily Weight Gain among Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abouheiba, Marwa Gadelrab; Moawad, Gehan Ahmed  El Nabawy; Eldemery, Nagwa Ibrahim

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2022.267561

Effect of Successive Abdominal Massage on Feeding Intolerance and Daily Weight Gain among Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer in Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt,

² Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt,

³ Lecturer in Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt,

10.21608/tsnj.2022.267561

Abstract

Background: Functional immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm neonate can cause several problems. It leads to feeding intolerance which may lead to suboptimal nutrition and subsequent adverse outcomes including reduced brain growth, decreased weight gain, and cognitive delays. Aim: this study aimed to investigate the effect of successive abdominal massage on feeding intolerance and daily weight increase among preterm neonates. Research design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample: A convenience sample of 40 preterm neonates was included. The total sample was randomly divided into two groups (Control and Study) using simple random technique. Setting: The study was carried out at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) affiliated to Mansoura University Children's Hospital (MUCH). Tools: two tools were used to collect the required data namely, Preterm Neonates’ Characteristics and Medical Data Structured Questionnaire Sheet and Preterm Neonates’ Follow-up Sheet. Results: A highly statistically significant difference was found between control and massage groups related to all feeding intolerance measurements and for daily weight increase. Conclusion: Successive abdominal massage is a safe and cost-effective method to be applied on preterm neonates. It has the potential to decrease the gastric residual volume (GRV), frequency of vomiting episodes, abdominal distension and increase frequency of defecation and daily weight gain in preterm neonates. Recommendation: Nurses should apply abdominal massage three times a day as an intervention helping prevent gastric residual volume excess and abdominal distension in intermittently enterally fed preterm.