Neurophysiological Facilitation for Respiratory Dysfunction in Preterm and Term Neonates: A Preliminary Pre-Post Interventional Study

The study aimed to explore the feasibility and efficacy of neurophysiological facilitation (NPF) techniques in improving respiratory dysfunction in preterm and term infants. It was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved 18 infants with respiratory dysfunction who received a single session of NPF, which included intercostal stretch, maintained manual pressure, and peri-oral pressure techniques. Primary outcomes, such as respiratory rate (RR) and oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ), were measured before and after the intervention at multiple time points, includ-ing 24 hours post-treatment. Phase 2 involved nine neonates who underwent six sessions of NPF over three days, with additional assessments using the Silverman–Andersen Score (SAS). The results revealed significant improvements in both phases. The intervention led to significant improvements in respiratory and oxygenation parameters. Respiratory rate (RR) decreased signifi-cantly, and oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ) increased immediately following the intervention (p < 0.01), with improvements in SpO₂ maintained for up to 24 hours. Additionally, SpO₂ showed an overall improvement of 5.78%, and Silverman–Andersen scores (SAS) decreased by 4.34 points after six sessions (p < 0.05). The intervention was well tolerated, with no significant adverse events, and all safety protocols were adhered to throughout the study. The findings suggest that NPF techniques can safely enhance respiratory function in neonates with respiratory distress, indicating their po-tential clinical application for neonatal respiratory therapy.