Effect of different positions on gastric residuals in preterm infants initiating full enteral feeding

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding in different positions on the gastric residual volume after feeding in preterm infants who initiated full enteral feeding. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with the hypothesis that testing the right lateral position leads to less gastric residual than left lateral position and the prone position leads to less gastric residual than the supine position. The data were collected in four stages from 35 preterm infants. Initially, the infants were positioned in supine position and were fed. After feeding, the infant rested in the supine position for 3 h. The stomach content was aspirated, and the volume of gastric residual was measured at the 60th, 120th, and 180th min after feeding. These steps are repeated in order of in the right lateral, left lateral, and prone position. Total gastric residual volume and type of enteral feeding were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the positions in terms of the volume of gastric residuals in the measurements made at 60th (P = 9.552), 120th (P = .505), and 180th min (P = .430). When the amount of decrease in the gastric residual volumes was a significant difference between all measurement times in right lateral and prone positions (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Although no significant difference was determined between the positions, the smallest residual volumes were determined in the right lateral and prone positions. The amount of decrease in residual volume was significant in right lateral and prone positions.