Effects of position on oxygen saturation and heart rate in very low birth weight neonates

Background: Desirable oxygenation of preterm newborns has particular importance, for this reason different methods have been proposed to improve oxygenation of the newborns; one of these methods is the newborns' position. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the position of low birth weight neonates on arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate. Methods: This interventional study was conducted with simple non-randomized method in 2014-15 on 40 very low birth weight neonates, and each of them was initially in supine position for 120 minutes, then after 10 minutes of resting they were in prone position and each of them was in left lateral position, and during this period, arterial oxygen parameters and heart rate were recorded every 15 minutes, individual characteristics in a questionnaire for each newborn were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Repeated measurement test and paired sample test comparison. Results: Average oxygen saturation percentage in supine position was 96.74±2.09 and in prone and left lateral positions was 97.41±1.91 and 96.14±2.36, respectively which was statistically significant (P=0.032). Heart rate in the three positions was in normal range but the range of heart rate fluctuations in prone position was slightly less that was not statistically significant (P=0.596). Conclusions: Results of the current study showed that the prone position made more desirable oxygenation and heart rate fluctuations compared to supine and left lateral position in preterm newborns. So this position can be used in care service of newborns with low birth weight if there is no prohibition of using this position.