Nonnutritive sucking and necrotizing enterocolitis.
The purpose of this study was to explore the possible protective effect of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) against the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A retrospective chart review was conducted to examine the histories of 12 preterm infants who were enrolled in a longitudinal study of the effects of NNS on energy expenditure, weight gain, and feeding readiness. Six infants were enrolled in the control group; they did not receive NNS but did develop NEC. Six infants were in the experimental group and did not develop NEC. The groups were compared on the basis of clinical correlates associated with NEC. These included race, gender, birth weight, five-minute Apgar, maternal bleeding, maternal age, and length of ruptured membranes. For infants who developed NEC, the number of clinical correlates ranged from one to four. For infants who received NNS, the range of clinical correlates was from one to five. It is not possible to conclude from this study that NNS protects preterm infants from NEC. Prospective studies of larger sample sizes that involve examination of the effect of NNS on gastric motility and enzyme and hormone secretion are needed.