The effect of the positions given after extubation to preterm infants on the respiratory functions

This research was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of supine and prone positions given to preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after extubation, on the left functions of preterm infants. The research was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in northeastern Turkey between November 2018 and June 2019. Of 42 premature infants, 21 of whom were selected by the randomization method, were included in the sample of the study. The data of the research were collected with the Newborn Evaluation Form. After extubation, the preterm infants were placed in supine and prone positions and kept in the given position for 120 minutes. The heart rate, SpO2, and the respiratory rate were evaluated every 30 minutes. It was observed within 120 minutes and recorded in the data collection forum. The data were examined with the Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman test, Wilcoxon test, Cochran's Q test. In the research, the median values of SpO2 of infants placed in the supine position were found to be lower than the median values of SpO2 of preterm infants placed in the prone position in the measurements according to time. A significant difference between the median values of SpO2 and repeated measurements within the position groups (supine group <0.001; prone group <0.001) was found. There is significant difference between the distributions of respiratory rhythm in the preterm infant group placed in the prone position (p=0.035) according to time. 95.2% of them were obtained rhythmically at the 120th minute. The effect of the positions given in the study on respiratory functions was statistically significant no difference was found.