109 - Effect of Reading to Preterm infants on Measures of Cerebral Regional Oxygen Saturation (CrSO2) in the NICU

Poster Number: 109
Publication Number: 109.337

Jennifer Pak, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States; Kabir M. ABUBAKAR, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States

Background: Premature infants are at increased risk of developing neurodevelopmental delays, particularly in speech and language, as compared to full term infants. When admitted to the NICU, premature infants are often deprived of normal auditory environment, consisting of parental voice, heartbeat, and body noises. Therefore, the NICU environment may have a significant impact on the development of the preterm brain and future neurodevelopmental outcome, particularly in language and speech development. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a tool used to measure cerebral oxygenation (CrSO₂) and perfusion. Inadequate or fluctuating cerebral perfusion and oxygenation can result in brain injury and can adversely affect brain development. Reading to preterm infants in the NICU has been shown to improve measures of physiologic stability including oxygen saturation and heart rate variability.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if parental bedside reading provides greater cerebral regional oxygen saturation stability in preterm infants during the reading period and to evaluate if the stability in cerebral regional oxygen saturation persists beyond the reading period.

Design/Methods: We identified premature infants less than 37 weeks gestation who are at least 7 days after birth. After obtaining consent, the NIRS sensor was attached to the infants right or left forehead. Data points were collected for one hour prior to parental bedside reading (live or recorded), for one hour during the reading period, and for one hour after the reading period ended. Each baby served as his or her own control.

Results:

A total of 21 hours of reading time was recorded among 5 infants with gestational age of 24-27 weeks, postmenstrual age of 32-38 weeks on days of life 39-74. Mean CrSO₂ at baseline was 61.2 ± 4.5%, during reading 66.1 ± 4.9%, and after reading 77.9 ± 4.6%. CrSO₂ measures rose significantly during the reading period and remained higher in the 1 hour after reading has ended.

Conclusion(s):

Reading to preterm infants in the NICU was associated with a significant increase in CrSO₂ and this increase was sustained even 1 hour after the end of the reading period. These findings augment what is known about the effect of reading to preterm infants on improving physiologic stability.