Scientific article
English

Olfactory stimulation may promote oral feeding in immature newborn: a randomized controlled trial

Published inEuropean Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, vol. 275, no. 1, p. 125-129
Publication date2018
Abstract

Premature newborns have an increased mortality and morbidity due to respiratory immaturity and inefficient oral feeding performance. Transient assistance with feeding tubes until oral performance improves is required with consequent hospital admission. Based on a controlled and randomized study, we tested whether olfactory stimulation compared to odorless stimulation could accelerate the switch from feeding tube to satisfactory oral feeding. Fifty newborns were included and randomly assigned to either odorless or olfactory stimulation with anise or cinnamon. The main outcome measurement was the duration of the hospital stay. The odor-stimulated group could be discharged from hospital on average 3.4 days earlier than the control group (p = 0.12). When including only more mature newborns into the analysis (n = 39), the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This trend emphasizes that olfaction may have its place in early feeding stimulation

Keywords
  • Newborns
  • Olfactory stimulation
  • Prematurity
  • Smell
  • Feeding tube
Citation (ISO format)
CAO VAN, Hélène et al. Olfactory stimulation may promote oral feeding in immature newborn: a randomized controlled trial. In: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2018, vol. 275, n° 1, p. 125–129. doi: 10.1007/s00405-017-4796-0
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00405-017-4796-0
Journal ISSN0937-4477
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