Grooved palate associated with prolonged use of orogastric feeding tubes in premature infants

Feeding by means of orogastric tubes is commonly used in premature infants until oral feeding can be established. Oral feeding is limited in premature infants of less than 32 weeks gestation because of inadequate gag reflex, poor sucking, and poor swallowing. We have recently noted palatal groove formation in three very low birth-weight premature infants who were fed for prolonged periods by orogastric tubes. Although palatal groove formation is a well-recognized complication of orotracheal intubation in neonates,^1-5 it has been reported in association with orogastric feeding only once. We report three additional cases of this complication in premature infants and wish to establish this association.