Positioning and physiologic changes during feeding of infants with congestive heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease

• Main Author: Korpon, Mary Lou
• Other Authors: Casteel, J. Keenan
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 1988
• Subjects: Congenital heart disease > Patients > Positioning.; Congestive heart failure.; Nutrition disorders in infants.; Infants > Care.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/276769

A descriptive design was used in this study to describe the feeding behaviors (as defined by changes in body position) in infants with congestive heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease. In addition, short term physiologic changes associated with the behaviors were measured through the use of pulse oximetry and cardiorespiratory monitors. Nine infants were observed in this study as they were being fed by their nurses. The method chosen was naturalistic observation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic data and the measured physiologic variables. A point by serial correlation was conducted to describe any relationships between the position changes and the measured physiologic variables. Statistically significant relationships were found between certain positions and oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate. The results indicate that infants do experience position changes that are accompanied by changes in physiologic variables during feeding. These position changes can be categorized as infant-mediated or nurse-mediated.