The Clinical Effects of Early Trophic Feeding in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Jung, Ji Mi; Han, Seong Woo; Chung, Mi Lim; Koo, Soo Hyun; Jeon, Ga Won; Sin, Jong Beom

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated the effects of early enteral feeding on the morbidities of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) weighing less than 1,000 g.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of sixty one ELBWI who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Inje University Busan Paik Hospital from January 2007 to October 2009. ELBWI were divided into two groups; the control group included ELBWI from January 2007 to March 2008, for whom enteral feeding was started beyond 3 days and the early feeding group included ELBWI from April 2008 to October 2009, for whom enteral feeding was started within 3 days.
RESULTS
Gestational age and birth weight did not differ between the two groups. In the early feeding group, start day of enteral feeding (control group vs. early feeding group; 7+/-2days vs. 2+/-1days), time to achieve full enteral feeding (68+/-6 days vs. 22+/-2 days), and the duration of parenteral nutrition (58+/-6 days vs. 22+/-2 days) were significantly shorter, and weight gain at postnatal day 28 was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.001). No differences were observed in the incidence of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis and duration of hospitalization; however, the incidence of total parenteral nutrition induced cholestasis (44% vs. 7%) and bronchopulmonary dysplsia (78% vs. 24%) was significantly lower in the early feeding group.
CONCLUSION
Early enteral feeding in ELBWI shortened the time to achieve full enteral feeding, improved weight gain, and decreased the incidence of brochopulmonay dysplasia and cholestasis.