Bandita Goswami, Bishakha Shyam, Kangkan Talukdar, Ankur J. Bora | International Journal of Neurological Nursing | Vol 11, Issue 02 | pp. 6-13 | ISSN: 2456-5229
Abstract
Aim:To present a rare case of a neonate with meconium aspiration syndrome treated with neurophysiological facilitation therapy, demonstrating significant improvements in respiratory function and oxygenation. Purpose:To assess the efficacy of neurophysiological facilitation in improving respiratory distress and reducing the need for mechanical respiratory support in a neonate diagnosed with meconium aspiration syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome. Methodology:This case report follows the progress of a male neonate born at 39 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1.002 kg. Upon birth, the infant exhibited poor respiratory effort and was admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Assam. Initial respiratory support was provided via non-invasive ventilation on Day 1, followed by a transition to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on Day 3. Neurophysiological facilitation therapy, consisting of perioral stimulation and intercostal stretch, was introduced concurrently with CPAP. Neurophysiological facilitation techniques were administered twice daily for 30 seconds each, with a 30-second rest between applications, for 14 days. Outcome measures, including the Modified Downes score, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation, were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Results:This study found that neurophysiological facilitation therapeutic intervention significantly reduced Downes scores (p < 0.001) and respiratory rate (p < 0.001), while increasing oxygen saturation (p < 0.001) in patients with meconium aspiration syndrome. Strong pre- to post-intervention correlations further support its effectiveness.Conclusion:Neurophysiological facilitation therapy played a pivotal role in facilitating the reduction of respiratory distress and improving oxygen saturation in this neonate with meconium aspiration syndrome. The therapy contributed to early weaning from CPAP and demonstrated its potential as an effective adjunctive treatment for respiratory support in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome. This case underscores the potential benefits of incorporating neurophysiological facilitation into the management of neonates with complex respiratory conditions.
Keywords:Neurophysiological facilitation (NPF), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oxygen saturation, respiratory rate
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How to cite this article
@article{GoswamiB2025,
author = {Bandita Goswami and Bishakha Shyam and Kangkan Talukdar and Ankur J. Bora},
title = {Neurophysiological Facilitation in Meconium Aspiration Syndrome – A Rare Case Report},
journal = {International Journal of Neurological Nursing},
year = {2025},
volume = {11},
number = {02},
pages = {6--13},
issn = {2456-5229},
url = {https://journalspub.com/publication/ijnen/article=22832}
}