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Feeding regimens in VLBW infants
Early Human Development 90 (2014) 407–408
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Early Human Development journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/earlhumdev
Feeding regimens in VLBW infants
Keywords: VLBW infants Necrotizing enterocolitis Enteral feeding
Dear Sir, Hamilton et al. [1] demonstrated that an education-based process improvement initiative decreased time of enteral feeding initiation to a median of 14 h with no associated increase in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or death in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. In fact, their data suggest that earlier feeding is associated with a decreased NEC or death rate. Nevertheless, following this intervention, an incidence of NEC of 6.3% was still seen in this cohort [1], which is comparable to previous reports [2]. Given the detrimental effects of NEC on mortality and long-term morbidity, we would like to share some of our experiences with our feeding protocol that has been associated with an exceptionally low rate of NEC as detailed below [3]. Enteral nutrition policy in our NICU A standardized feeding protocol is applied in our NICU that defines feeding increments and handling of feeding difficulties. Breast milk feeding is strongly encouraged, while donor human milk is not available. Bolus feedings are given at 2- or 3-hour intervals (usually 10 feeds/day). Contrary to the work by Hamilton et al. [1] enteral feeds are started after passage of meconium with daily increases of 5–10–15 ml/kg of preterm formula (Alfaré 14%, Fa. Nestlé®, Switzerland; Prematil® and Prematil HA®, Milupa, Germany). If available, expressed breast milk is substituted for preterm formula as soon as possible. Breast milk is supplemented with a multicomponent fortifier (FM 85®, Nestlé, Switzerland) at the discretion of the treating physician. Also, it is a routine policy in our NICU to administer probiotics (1 capsule of Infloran®/day, most importantly to ELBW infants for a time period of at least 28 days). Full enteral feeds are defined as 150–160 ml/kg/day of milk feeds administered for more than one day. Exact nutritional intakes are determined daily by detailed chart review for the first 21 days of life, then weekly, until discharge. Evacuation of meconium and gastrointestinal transit is promoted by regular rectal enemas and administration of Gastrografin (0.5–1.0 ml/kg) via a nasogastric tube. Daily modifications are possible according to the judgment of the treating physician. Prefeed gastric residuals of 1–2 ml or b 30–35% of scheduled singlefeed volume are tolerated in infants with unremarkable clinical examination of the abdomen. Feeding policies do not vary for specific subgroups of infants (e.g., ELBW vs. VLBW infants) and are identical in IUGR infants and no routine adjustments are generally made for these subgroups.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.05.005 0378-3782/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In case of suspected NEC enteral feeds are withheld, a full diagnostic septic work-up (including full blood count, clinical chemistry, stool samples sent for microbiology testing, testing for occult blood, sonography of the abdomen, abdominal X-ray if indicated) is performed. If indicated, infants are started on antibiotics (imipenem 60 mg/kg/day, TID) until full clinical recovery and CrP values b10 mg/l at the discretion of the treating physician. In our study, a total of 103 VLBW (mean birth weight: 1121 ± 266 g; range: 570–1490; 10–25th percentile) were included. Mean duration until first feeds were started was 2.2 ± 1.0 days (range: 1–7 days). Median time until full enteral feeds were achieved was 20 days (range: 10–48) days with a mean weight of 1313 ± 311 g (3–10th percentile; range: 620–2000 g). Neonates were discharged/transferred after 63.0 ± 26.6 days (range: 12–141) with a mean weight of 2647 ± 450 g (b3rd percentile; range 1030–3630 g). The incidence of NEC (Bell's stage ≥ 2a) was 0/103 (0%) which is in stark contrast to the data published by Hamilton et al. [1]. In 5/103 neonates, catheter-related bloodstream infections (2.4 infections/1000 device days) occurred. When compared to a German reference group, the incidence of NEC was substantially lower in our cohort [4]. Based on our findings and feeding policy, we conclude that slow advancement of enteral feeds in VLBW infants is associated with a disproportionately low rate of NEC without unduly increasing the number of catheter-related infections. Introducing a bundle of care measures and a standardized feeding regimen in VLBW infants – as detailed above – yields a disproportionately low rate of NEC. This regimen seems more promising in reducing the incidence of NEC than the approach suggested by Hamilton et al. [1]. Of note, an excessively high rate of NEC of 15% was seen in their study population prior to their intervention. Nevertheless, large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary that will compare both short- and long-term outcome variables after conservative vs. aggressive enteral feeding regimes in this susceptible cohort [5].
Conflict of interest The author state that no conflict of interest is involved with this work.
References [1] Hamilton E, Massey C, Ross J, Taylor S. Early enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants. Early Hum Dev 2014;90:227–30. [2] Horbar JD, Carpenter JH, Badger GJ, Kenny MJ, Soll RF, Morrow KA, et al. Mortality and neonatal morbidity among infants 501 to 1500 grams from 2000 to 2009. Pediatrics 2012;129:1019–26. [3] Butte M, Lindner U, Sauer H, Schöndorf D, Gortner L, Gottschling S, et al. Conservative enteral feeding policy and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in VLBW infants: a single center experience. J Pediatr Neonatal Care 2014;1(1):00002. [4] Stichtenoth G, Demmert M, Bohnhorst B, Stein A, Ehlers S, Heitmann F, et al. Major contributors to hospital mortality in very-low-birth-weight infants: data of the birth year 2010 cohort of the German Neonatal Network. Klin Padiatr 2012;224:276–81.
408 [5] SIFT Investigators Group. Early enteral feeding strategies for very preterm infants: current evidence from Cochrane reviews. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2013(98):F470-2.
Sascha Meyer⁎ Dominik Schöndorf Mona Buttte University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Building 9, 66421 Homburg, Germany ⁎Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 6841 1628374; fax: +49 6841 1628452. E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Meyer). 11 May 2014 Available online xxxx
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Early Human Development journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/earlhumdev
Feeding regimens in VLBW infants
Keywords: VLBW infants Necrotizing enterocolitis Enteral feeding
Dear Sir, Hamilton et al. [1] demonstrated that an education-based process improvement initiative decreased time of enteral feeding initiation to a median of 14 h with no associated increase in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or death in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. In fact, their data suggest that earlier feeding is associated with a decreased NEC or death rate. Nevertheless, following this intervention, an incidence of NEC of 6.3% was still seen in this cohort [1], which is comparable to previous reports [2]. Given the detrimental effects of NEC on mortality and long-term morbidity, we would like to share some of our experiences with our feeding protocol that has been associated with an exceptionally low rate of NEC as detailed below [3]. Enteral nutrition policy in our NICU A standardized feeding protocol is applied in our NICU that defines feeding increments and handling of feeding difficulties. Breast milk feeding is strongly encouraged, while donor human milk is not available. Bolus feedings are given at 2- or 3-hour intervals (usually 10 feeds/day). Contrary to the work by Hamilton et al. [1] enteral feeds are started after passage of meconium with daily increases of 5–10–15 ml/kg of preterm formula (Alfaré 14%, Fa. Nestlé®, Switzerland; Prematil® and Prematil HA®, Milupa, Germany). If available, expressed breast milk is substituted for preterm formula as soon as possible. Breast milk is supplemented with a multicomponent fortifier (FM 85®, Nestlé, Switzerland) at the discretion of the treating physician. Also, it is a routine policy in our NICU to administer probiotics (1 capsule of Infloran®/day, most importantly to ELBW infants for a time period of at least 28 days). Full enteral feeds are defined as 150–160 ml/kg/day of milk feeds administered for more than one day. Exact nutritional intakes are determined daily by detailed chart review for the first 21 days of life, then weekly, until discharge. Evacuation of meconium and gastrointestinal transit is promoted by regular rectal enemas and administration of Gastrografin (0.5–1.0 ml/kg) via a nasogastric tube. Daily modifications are possible according to the judgment of the treating physician. Prefeed gastric residuals of 1–2 ml or b 30–35% of scheduled singlefeed volume are tolerated in infants with unremarkable clinical examination of the abdomen. Feeding policies do not vary for specific subgroups of infants (e.g., ELBW vs. VLBW infants) and are identical in IUGR infants and no routine adjustments are generally made for these subgroups.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.05.005 0378-3782/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In case of suspected NEC enteral feeds are withheld, a full diagnostic septic work-up (including full blood count, clinical chemistry, stool samples sent for microbiology testing, testing for occult blood, sonography of the abdomen, abdominal X-ray if indicated) is performed. If indicated, infants are started on antibiotics (imipenem 60 mg/kg/day, TID) until full clinical recovery and CrP values b10 mg/l at the discretion of the treating physician. In our study, a total of 103 VLBW (mean birth weight: 1121 ± 266 g; range: 570–1490; 10–25th percentile) were included. Mean duration until first feeds were started was 2.2 ± 1.0 days (range: 1–7 days). Median time until full enteral feeds were achieved was 20 days (range: 10–48) days with a mean weight of 1313 ± 311 g (3–10th percentile; range: 620–2000 g). Neonates were discharged/transferred after 63.0 ± 26.6 days (range: 12–141) with a mean weight of 2647 ± 450 g (b3rd percentile; range 1030–3630 g). The incidence of NEC (Bell's stage ≥ 2a) was 0/103 (0%) which is in stark contrast to the data published by Hamilton et al. [1]. In 5/103 neonates, catheter-related bloodstream infections (2.4 infections/1000 device days) occurred. When compared to a German reference group, the incidence of NEC was substantially lower in our cohort [4]. Based on our findings and feeding policy, we conclude that slow advancement of enteral feeds in VLBW infants is associated with a disproportionately low rate of NEC without unduly increasing the number of catheter-related infections. Introducing a bundle of care measures and a standardized feeding regimen in VLBW infants – as detailed above – yields a disproportionately low rate of NEC. This regimen seems more promising in reducing the incidence of NEC than the approach suggested by Hamilton et al. [1]. Of note, an excessively high rate of NEC of 15% was seen in their study population prior to their intervention. Nevertheless, large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary that will compare both short- and long-term outcome variables after conservative vs. aggressive enteral feeding regimes in this susceptible cohort [5].
Conflict of interest The author state that no conflict of interest is involved with this work.
References [1] Hamilton E, Massey C, Ross J, Taylor S. Early enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants. Early Hum Dev 2014;90:227–30. [2] Horbar JD, Carpenter JH, Badger GJ, Kenny MJ, Soll RF, Morrow KA, et al. Mortality and neonatal morbidity among infants 501 to 1500 grams from 2000 to 2009. Pediatrics 2012;129:1019–26. [3] Butte M, Lindner U, Sauer H, Schöndorf D, Gortner L, Gottschling S, et al. Conservative enteral feeding policy and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in VLBW infants: a single center experience. J Pediatr Neonatal Care 2014;1(1):00002. [4] Stichtenoth G, Demmert M, Bohnhorst B, Stein A, Ehlers S, Heitmann F, et al. Major contributors to hospital mortality in very-low-birth-weight infants: data of the birth year 2010 cohort of the German Neonatal Network. Klin Padiatr 2012;224:276–81.
408 [5] SIFT Investigators Group. Early enteral feeding strategies for very preterm infants: current evidence from Cochrane reviews. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2013(98):F470-2.
Sascha Meyer⁎ Dominik Schöndorf Mona Buttte University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Building 9, 66421 Homburg, Germany ⁎Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 6841 1628374; fax: +49 6841 1628452. E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Meyer). 11 May 2014 Available online xxxx