Ruído sonoro em incubadora neonatal e seus efeitos nas respostas fisiológicas do recém-nascido prematuro

Abstract

The noise levels found in the incubators reveal that preterm infants are exposed to a noisy environment, staying long periods in this environment. The aims of the present study were to measure the internal noise in incubators, to identify the main sources of acoustic noise and to evaluate the physiological responses of premature infants. All premature infants were exposed to Leq values above 58.0 and 60.0 dBA, limits suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the brazilian standard ABNT NBR IEC 60601-2-19:2014, respectively. The double-wall incubators had lower Leq values when compared to single-wall ones, and the difference was significant. The highest levels of noise resulted from conversation alone or associated with other events. The noise to which the premature infants are exposed in the incubators constitutes a stressful factor and there seems to be related to the variations in heart rate and oxygen saturation. At the highest values of Leq, 63.2 % of the premature infants had an increase in heart rate and 52.6 % had a decrease in oxygen saturation, with these changes being significant. Based on the results, strategies may be suggested to reduce the noise levels to which premature infants are exposed, such as the preferential adoption of double-wall incubators and educational programs aimed at reducing the levels of conversation within the neonatal unit.