The Effects of Positions on the Gastric Residual Volume of Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To produce a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials of the effects of positions given to premature infants after feeding on their gastric residual volume measured before the next feeding. Material and Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed via the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument. Ten databases were comprehensively scanned. The inclusion criteria were set according to the PICOS format, and the data were analyzed by 2 independent researchers. The Stata 16 program was used to analyze the data. Hedge's g-effect size, I² statistics, random effects models, and fixed effects models were used during the study. The random effects model, calculated using the DerSimonian Laird method, was considered. Results: A total of 791 articles met the inclusion criteria. After the assessment of methodological quality, 4 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the positioning given after feeding did not significantly affect the residual gastric volume measured before the next feeding. Conclusion: Based on the limited and heterogeneous evidence available, this meta-analysis does not show a statistically significant effect of supine, prone, right or left lateral positioning on the gastric residual volume measured before feeding.