Preterm Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) on Feeding Progression, Length of Stay and Gain in Weight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Preterm infants face difficulty in adjusting to extra uterine life due to weak and immature organ system. Newborn reflexes such as sucking and rooting are essential for a baby to begin oral feeding. Failure to develop essential reflexes in time leads to dehydration and failure to thrive especially in case of preterm birth. New oral motor exercise called Preterm Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) has proven to be efficient in improving feeding abilities in preterm infants. This review is planned to measure the efficacy of intervention among inpatient preterm infants. The systematic review and meta-analysis has been carried out by following PRISMA guidelines. The review was carried out by utilizing literature search database like PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Academia from 2010 till 2023. All Randomised control and clinical trials were included. Out of 223 studies reviewed, nine studies were included in Meta-analysis with 474 preterm infants as study samples. The PIOMI has been found to be effective in attaining oral feeding progression, reducing length of hospital stay and weight gain among preterm infants. This review highlights that the PIOMI is effective in accelerating oral feeding reducing hospital stay and improving the weight among preterm infants. This review also recommends adopting PIOMI as standard best practice for oral motor therapy for preterm infants as early as 29 weeks gestational age and continuing until full oral feedings are reached.