Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants
Citation: Watson J., & McGuire W. Nasal versus oral route for placing feeding tubes in preterm or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003952.
The data recovered in this review do not provide sufficient evidence to inform policy or practice regarding whether the nasal versus the oral route of enteral feeding tube placement is preferable for preterm or low birth weight infants.
Enteral feeding tubes for preterm or low birth weight infants may be placed via either the nose or mouth. Nasal placement may compromise respiration, but orally placed tubes may be more prone to displacement, local irritation, and vagal stimulation. This review aims to determine the effect of nasal versus oral placement of enteral feeding tubes on feed tolerance, growth and development, and the incidence of adverse events in preterm or low birth weight infants.