Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Cot-side Suckometry and Oral Stimulation in Very Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study
Sponsor: Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse
Summary
Very preterm infants - born before 32 weeks' gestational age - commonly experience delayed transition to oral feeding due to immature suck-swallow-breathe coordination. This prospective pilot study have two aims: (1) to assess the feasibility of cot-side non-nutritive sucking assessment (suckometry) from the first postnatal days in very preterm infants; and (2) to characterise early sucking performances before and after routine implementation of a structured oral stimulation protocol. Very preterm infants - born before 33 weeks gestational age - enrolled in a single-centre level III neonatal unit. Sucking performance measured weekly using a novel bedside suckometer from the first postnatal week until full oral feeding autonomy. Clinical outcomes and sucking parameters compared between non-stimulated (NOSTIM) and stimulated (STIM) groups.
Official title: Early Evolution of Oral Feeding Skills in Very Preterm Infants: Impact of an Oral Stimulation Program Assessed by Cot-side Suckometer
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
Any - 6 Months
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
17
Start Date
2012-05-30
Completion Date
2013-05-01
Last Updated
2026-06-10
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Bedside Suckometer
Bedside non-nutritive suckometer comprising a silicone teat connected to dual micro-pressure sensors. Quantifies suction (negative) and compression (positive) pressures in real time. Measurements performed weekly from the first postnatal week until full oral feeding autonomy in all participants.
Structured Oral Stimulation Protocol
The structured oral stimulation protocol was developed with reference to the Fucile protocol (Fucile et al., 2002) and the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI; Lessen et al., 2015). It involved gentle perioral stimulation using a gloved finger, progressing from the ear to the labial commissure. Responsive infants received escalating stimulation of the lips and intraoral structures (gums, palate, tongue). Sessions delivered 2-4 times daily by trained nurses during routine care, initiated within the first three postnatal days and continued until the introduction of oral feeding.
Locations (1)
Neonatal Unit, Hopital Croix Rousse
Lyon, France