Outcomes of gastric residuals whilst feeding preterm infants in various body positions

In a prospective study we investigated the effect of body position on gastric residuals in 147 preterm infants with a gestational age of 28–36 weeks. Infants were cared for equally in four positions (left lateral (LLP), right lateral (RLP), supine (SP), and prone position (PP)) every 24 h. On day 4 after birth, gastric residuals were measured at 2 time-points in each position. Mean gestational age was 31.6 (2.2) weeks and birth weight 1630 (540) grams. Gastric residuals occurred more often during LLP (49%) than during RLP (39%; p < .05) and PP (41%; p < .05), but not SP (48%). Median amounts of gastric residuals were higher during LLP (66%; p < .05) than RLP (20%), PP (33%) and SP (28%). Therefore, preterm infants have less often and smaller gastric residuals when nursed in a right lateral position.