Abstract
Purpose
Oronasopharyngeal suction is routine neonatal care in many institutions in Japan. However, few studies have proved its efficacy in normal-term newborns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oronasopharyngeal suction on oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) among healthy, term and vaginally newborn infants.
Methods
The subjects were 26 healthy, term and vaginally newborn infants whose mothers had no complication during pregnancy. They were randomized to suction and no suction groups for each week. The oxygen saturation and heart rate were documented 30 second-by-second starting from the fifth minute of life until two hours later. Two outcomes were defined, time to reach SaO2 of ≥ 96% and time to do HR of ≤ 160 bpm, indicating stable status of respiratory and circulating functions, respectively.
Results
It took 623 ± 266 (mean ± SD) seconds to reach SpO2 of ≥ 96% in no suction groups (n=13), 687 ± 205 seconds in suction groups (n=13). It took 593 ± 332 seconds to reach HR of ≤ 160 bpm in no suction groups, and 755 ± 442 seconds in suction groups. There were no statistically significant differences in either stable SpO2 or HR between the two groups. SpO2 and HR were likely to stabilize earlier in no suction groups than suction groups during the first 10 minutes, though no significant difference was observed.
Conclusion
The results of this study showed no physiological basis for oronasopharyngeal suction in healthy, term, and vaginally newborn infants. The clinicians including midwife should reconsider oronasopharyngeal suction as a routine procedure.
