Reducing time to initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in an all-referral neonatal intensive care unit

Association between consensus-based nutrition pathway and growth faltering in infants with gastroschisis: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The University of California Fetal Consortium published that 55% of infants with gastroschisis develop growth faltering by hospital discharge. To address this problem, we developed a nutrition pathway emphasizing (1) early provision of parenteral macronutrients, (2) use of human milk, and (3) growth faltering treatment. This study's goals were to assess adherence to and efficacy of this pathway in infants with gastroschisis across six California hospitals.

METHODS

In 2015, the consortium standardized the care for infants with gastroschisis. To decrease growth faltering rates, between 2019 and 2020, nutrition guidelines were proposed, discussed, revised, and initiated. This study's primary outcome was weight or linear growth faltering (z score decline ≥0.8 in weight or length) at hospital discharge. Adherence measures were assessed.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-six infants with gastroschisis were born prepathway; 52 were born postpathway. Median gestational age was similar between cohorts. Adherence to components of the pathway ranged from 58% to 95%. The proportion of infants with weight or linear growth faltering at discharge was lower after pathway initiation (59.4% vs 36.2%, P = 0.0068). Adjusting for gestational age and fetal growth restriction, the pathway was associated with decreased weight or linear growth faltering (odds ratio [OR] 0.35 [0.16-0.75], P = 0.0060) and decreased linear growth faltering (OR 0.24 [0.096-0.56], P = 0.0062) at discharge. Hypertriglyceridemia, cholestasis, and days to full feeds were similar to published cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Fewer infants with gastroschisis experienced weight or length growth faltering at hospital discharge following the implementation of a multicenter nutrition pathway.

Effect of early initiation of enteral nutrition on short-term clinical outcomes of very premature infants: A national multicenter cohort study in China

OBJECTIVES

The management of enteral nutrition in very preterm infants (VPIs) is still controversial, and there is no consensus on the optimal time point after birth at which enteral nutrition can be started. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early initiation of enteral nutrition on the short-term clinical outcomes of VPIs.

METHODS

Data of infants (n = 2514) born before 32 wk of gestation were collected from 28 hospitals located in seven different regions of China. Based on whether enteral feeding was initiated within or after 24 h since birth, the infants were divided into an early initiation of enteral feeding (EIEF) group and a delayed initiation of enteral feeding (DIEF) group.

RESULTS

Compared with the DIEF group, the EIEF group was more likely to tolerate enteral nutrition and had less need for parenteral nutrition (all P < 0.05). The EIEF group was associated with lower incidence rates of feeding intolerance, extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR), and late-onset sepsis (LOS) (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (Bell stage ≥2) between the two groups (P = 0.118). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that EIEF was a protective factor against EUGR (odds ratio [OR], 0.621; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.544-0.735; P < 0.001), feeding intolerance (OR, 0.658; 95% CI, 0.554-0.782; P < 0.001), and LOS (OR, 0.706; 95% CI, 0.550-0.906; P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Early initiation of enteral feeding was associated with less frequency of feeding intolerance, EUGR, and LOS, and it may shorten the time to reach total enteral feeding without increasing the risk of NEC.

Feeding Strategies in Preterm Very Low Birth-Weight Infants: State-of-the-Science Review

BACKGROUND

Providing enteral feeds to preterm very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants is critical to optimize nutrition, enhance growth, and reduce complications. Protocols guiding feeding practices can improve outcomes, but significant variation exists between institutions, which may limit their utility. To be most effective, protocols should be based on the best available evidence.

PURPOSE

To examine the state of the science on several key components of feeding protocols for VLBW infants.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The authors searched PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases for terms related to feeding VLBW infants less than 32 weeks' gestational age, including initiation of feedings, rate of feeding advancement, timing of human milk (HM) fortification, and feeding during blood transfusions, when diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and during medical treatment of PDA closure.

RESULTS

Initiation of feeds within the first 3 days of life and advancement by 30 mL/kg/d may decrease time to attain full feeds without increasing complications. Insufficient evidence guides optimal timing of HM fortification, as well as feeding infants undergoing blood transfusions, infants diagnosed with a PDA, and infants receiving medical treatment of PDA closure.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Integration of existing research regarding feeding initiation and advancement into feeding protocols may improve outcomes. Infants at highest risk of feeding-related complications may benefit from a personalized feeding approach.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Additional research is needed to provide evidence concerning the optimal timing of HM fortification and feeding strategies for infants undergoing blood transfusions and those diagnosed with a PDA or receiving medical treatment of PDA closure to incorporate into evidence-based feeding protocols.

Variation in Neonatal Nutrition Practice and Implications: A Survey of Australia and New Zealand Neonatal Units

Background: Significant global variation exists in neonatal nutrition practice, including in assigned milk composition values, donor milk usage, fortification regimens, probiotic choice and in methods used to calculate and report nutrition and growth outcomes, making it difficult to synthesize data to inform evidence-based, standardized nutritional care that has potential to improve neonatal outcomes. The Australasian Neonatal Dietitians' Network (ANDiN) conducted a survey to determine the degree to which neonatal nutritional care varies across Australia and New Zealand (A&NZ) and to highlight potential implications.

Materials and Methods: A two-part electronic neonatal nutritional survey was emailed to each ANDiN member (n = 50). Part-One was designed to examine individual dietetic practice; Part-Two examined site-specific nutrition policies and practices. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the distribution of responses.

Results: Survey response rate: 88%. Across 24 NICU sites, maximum fluid targets varied (150–180 mL.kg.d⁻¹); macronutrient composition estimates for mothers' own(MOM) and donor (DM) milk varied (Energy (kcal.dL⁻¹) MOM: 65–72; DM 69–72: Protein (g.dL⁻¹): MOM: 1.0–1.5; DM: 0.8–1.3); pasteurized DM or unpasteurized peer-to-peer DM was not available in all units; milk fortification commenced at different rates and volumes; a range of energy values (kcal.g⁻¹) for protein (3.8–4.0), fat (9.0–10.0), and carbohydrate (3.8–4.0) were used to calculate parenteral and enteral intakes; probiotic choice differed; and at least seven different preterm growth charts were employed to monitor growth.

Discussion: Our survey identifies variation in preterm nutrition practice across A&NZ of sufficient magnitude to impact nutrition interventions and neonatal outcomes. This presents an opportunity to use the unique skillset of neonatal dietitians to standardize practice, reduce uncertainty of neonatal care and improve the quality of neonatal research.

Very low birth weight infants receive full enteral nutrition within 2 postnatal weeks

OBJECTIVE

Identify whether an enteral nutrition goal of reaching full feeds by 7 postnatal days for infants 1-1.5 kg and by 14 postnatal days for infants <1 kg was feasible and its associated outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Very low birth weight infant cohort admitted in the first postnatal day and categorized as either Epoch 1 or Epoch 2, 12 months before and after implementation of a revised feeding protocol were compared.

RESULT

In Epoch 2, 83% infants born 1-1.5 kg and 77% infants born <1 kg reached full feeds by 7 and 14 days compared to 26% and 25%, respectively in Epoch 1 (p < 0.0001). Central line and parental nutrition days were significantly lower in Epoch 2 compared to Epoch 1 with sustained and potentially improved infant growth.

CONCLUSION

An evidence-based advancement feeding protocol was associated with achieving full feeds within the first 2 postnatal weeks for very low birth weight infants.