Physiologic measures of kangaroo versus incubator care in a tertiary-level nursery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and feasibility of kangaroo care in a tertiary-level nursery as defined by apnea, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation.


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


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


METHODS
Eight mother-infant pairs.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Amount of apnea, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Kangaroo care is safe and feasible for selected mothers and infants in a tertiary-level nursery.
Bosque
E M
EM
Newborn Services, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco 94118, USA.
Brady
J P
JP
Affonso
D D
DD
Wahlberg
V
V
D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014110:Touch