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2026, Number 4

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Rev Mex Pediatr 2026; 93 (4)

Evaluation of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention to improve feeding skills in preterm infants: a comparison of two cohorts

Ruiz-Sánchez M, Escobedo-Berumen L, Lozano-Duau CM, Gerardo-del Hoyo MN, Gabriel-García C, Orozco-Sánchez CL

Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 160-165
PDF size: 858.91 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: achieving safe and efficient oral feeding is one of the major challenges during hospitalization of preterm infants. Objective: to compare the effect of the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) versus standard care on oral feeding skills –assessed using the Early Feeding Skills Assessment (EFSA)– in premature infants. Material and methods: the study included preterm infants born at 30 to 36.6 weeks of gestation. Patients were assigned to either conventional management (control) or PIOMI. EFSA was assessed at the initiation of feeding and prior to hospital discharge. Improvements in EFSA scores (ΔEFSA), weight gain, time to achieve independent oral feeding, and length of hospital stay were analyzed. Results: sixty-three infants received PIOMI, and 87 received conventional management. The PIOMI group achieved greater functional improvement (ΔEFSA: median 29 vs. 7; p ‹ 0.001) and daily weight gain (median 17.6 vs 7.5 g/day; p = 0.003) compared to the control group. However, at the start of the study, the control group had a higher gestational age and weight. Conclusions: the findings suggest that PIOMI could be a useful strategy to promote the maturation of oral feeding skills in preterm infants, but further research is needed to determine its effectiveness.


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