Korean J Pediatr.  2005 Jul;48(7):711-715.

The Effects of Early Enteral Feeding in Extremely Low Birth-Weight Infants

• Jeon GW
• Park SE
• Choi CW
• Hwang JH
• Chang YS
• Park WS

Abstract

PURPOSE
With the recent improved survival of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), enteral feeding has become a major issue. This study investigates the effects of early enteral feeding in ELBWI on their morbidity, duration of hospitalization, and mortality. METHODS: ELBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Samsung Medical Center from November 1994 to April 2004 who survived more than 14 days were enrolled. ELBWI were divided into two groups: an early feeding group (EF), in which enteral feeding was started within 3 days after birth; and a late feeding group (LF), in which enteral feeding was started beyond 3 days after birth. 80 ELBWI came under EF, and 131 ELBWI under LF. RESULTS: Birth weight and gestational age did not differ between the two groups. In EF, the time to achieve full enteral feeding and the duration of parenteral nutrition were significantly shorter than in LF. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly lower in EF, but the incidences of sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and cholestasis were not different between the two groups. There was no difference in the survival rate between the two groups, but the duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in EF. CONCLUSION: Early enteral feeding in ELBWI did not increase the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis, but rather decreased the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and shortened the duration of hospitalization.

Keyword

Early enteral feeding; Extremely low birth weight infant; Trophic feeding

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Cholestasis
Enteral Nutrition*
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Gestational Age
Hospitalization
Humans
Incidence
Infant*
Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Mortality
Parenteral Nutrition
Parturition
Sepsis
Survival Rate