Kangaroo mother care improves cardiorespiratory physiology in preterm infants: an observational study (2025)

Kangaroo mother care improves cardiorespiratory physiology in preterm infants: an observational study (1)

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  • Kangaroo mother care improves cardiorespiratory physiology in preterm infants: an observational study

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Original research

Kangaroo mother care improves cardiorespiratory physiology in preterm infants: an observational study

  1. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2600-7529Arvind Sehgal1,2,
  2. Emma J Yeomans1,2,
  3. Gillian M Nixon2,3
  1. 1Monash Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. 2Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  3. 3Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Arvind Sehgal; arvind.sehgal{at}monashhealth.org

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate whether kangaroo mother care (KMC) in preterm infants on non-invasive respiratory support improves indices of cardiorespiratory wellbeing.

Study design Prospective quasi-experimental observational study.

Setting Tertiary perinatal neonatal unit.

Patients 50 very preterm infants being managed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Interventions Continuous high-resolution preductal pulse-oximetry recordings using Masimo Radical-7 oximeter for 1 hour (incubator care) followed by 1 hour during KMC performed on the same day.

Main outcome measures Measures of cardiorespiratory stability (dips in oxygen saturations (SpO2)) of ≥5% less than baseline, % time spent with oxygen saturations <90%, SpO2 variability and heart rate fluctuation and incidence of bradycardias.

Results The gestational age and birth weight of the cohort were 28.4±2.1 weeks and 1137±301 g, respectively. Dips in SpO2 of ≥5% less than baseline were significantly fewer with KMC, median (IQR) 24 (12 to 42) vs 13 (3 to 25), p=0.001. SpO2 variability (Delta 12 s and 2 s), (1.24±0.6 vs 0.9±0.4, p=0.005 and 4.1±1.7 vs 2.8±1.2, p<0.0001) and rapid resaturation and desaturation indices were significantly lower during KMC, compared with incubator care. Percentage time spent in oxygen saturations <90% was less with KMC (7.5% vs 2.7%, p=0.04). Mean heart rate was comparable although fluctuations in heart rate (rise by >8 bpm) were lower with KMC (43±22 vs 33±20, p=0.03). Seven (14%) infants had bradycardias during incubator care and none during KMC, p=0.012.

Conclusions KMC improves cardiorespiratory stability in ventilated preterm infants. Regular KMC has the potential to improve clinical outcomes in this vulnerable cohort.

  • Neonatology
  • Nursing Care

Data availability statement

Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

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    • Neonatology
    • Nursing Care

    Data availability statement

    Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors AS: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; wrote the first draft and edited later versions; approve the final version and will be accountable for all aspects of the work. EJY: contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; critically revised the draft manuscript; approve the final version and will be accountable for all aspects of the work. GN: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; important input into editing the draft manuscript; approve the final version and will be accountable for all aspects of the work.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer-reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.

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    Kangaroo mother care improves cardiorespiratory physiology in preterm infants: an observational study (2025)
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