Developmental intervention for preterm infants diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia

Author(s): Nelson, M. N., Silvestri, J. M., Patel, M., Vasan, U., Han, B. K., Cunningham, N., Burns, K., Kopischke, K., Bradford, L.

Journal/Book: Res Nurs Health. 1999; 22: 605 Third Ave, New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. John Wiley & Sons Inc. 131-143.

Abstract: Preterm infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were evaluated to determine whether multi-sensory stimulation is safe and to assess whether it improved neurobehavior and neurodevelopment. Thirty preterm infants with documented PVL were randomly assigned to control (n= 15) or experimental (Group E) (n= 15) groups at 33 weeks post-conceptional age. Group E infants received 15 minutes of auditory, tactile, visual, and vestibular (ATVV) intervention twice a day, five days a week, for four weeks during hospitalization. Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that Group E infants experienced significant increases in heart and respiratory rate and a 0.72% drop in hemoglobin saturation, coinciding with a significant behavioral state shift from sleep to alertness during intervention. No differences were identified in neurobehavioral function and neurodevelopment, indicating that Group E suffered no injury. Group E had an average hospital stay nine days shorter than that of controls, with the associated cost savings of $213,840. The earlier hospital discharge indicates that ATVV intervention promotes alertness without compromising physiologic status in vulnerable infants.

Note: Article White-Traut RC, Univ Illinois, Coll Nursing, 845 S Damen Ave, Chicago,IL 60612 USA

Keyword(s): periventricular leukomalacia; developmental intervention; neonate; BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS; CEREBRAL-PALSY; PREMATURE-INFANTS; BRAIN INJURY; TERM INFANTS; FULL-TERM; STATE; ECHODENSITIES; ORGANIZATION; STIMULATION

Zurück | Weiter