Physiologic measures of kangaroo versus incubator care in a tertiary-level nursery

Abstract

Objective: To determine the safety and feasibility of kangaroo care in a tertiary-level nursery as defined by apnea, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation.

Design: Prospective, long-term, repeated measures with a convenience sample.

Setting: A 20-bed, tertiary-level nursery with approximately 400 admissions a year.

Participants: Eight mother-infant pairs.

Interventions: Researchers compared incubator care with kangaroo care for 4 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 3 weeks. Physiologic variables were monitored daily and recorded continuously on a polygraph for 8 hours each week.

Main outcome measures: Amount of apnea, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation.

Secondary outcome measures: Heart rate, respiratory rate, percent sleep time, and skin temperature.

Results: Apnea, bradycardia, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and respiratory rate were similar during both kangaroo (K) and incubator (I) care. The infants experienced a lower percent (mean +/- standard deviation, K versus I) of total sleep (47 +/- 15 versus 64 +/- 19, p < .003) during kangaroo care. The infants' mean +/- standard deviation temperature during the kangaroo care (36.5 degrees C +/- 0.64 degrees C) was lower (p < .03) than that of the control periods before (36.8 degrees C +/- 0.27 degrees C) or after (36.7 degrees C +/- 0.26 degrees C). Percent sleep time and skin temperature were slightly lower during kangaroo care, but the differences were not clinically significant.

Conclusion: Kangaroo care is safe and feasible for selected mothers and infants in a tertiary-level nursery.