Clinical experience of home enteral nutrition in newborn surgical patients / 中华临床营养杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the complications and nutritional outcomes of Home Enteral Nutritional (HEN) in newborn surgical patients.Method:The medical records of neonates with HEN after surgery between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and complications of HEN and the nutritional status before and after HEN were analyzed.Results:A total of 66 neonates were included. The average gestational age at delivery and birth weight were (35.7 ± 3.0) weeks and (2426 ± 709) g, respectively. Diagnoses were mainly congenital esophageal atresia and intestinal diseases, such as intestinal atresia, intestinal torsion and necrotizing enterocolitis. The median age at HEN initiation was 92 (50, 112) days and HEN duration was 64 (41,95) days. HEN was conducted with tube feeding, with 14 patients (21.2%) through gastrostomy, 52 (78.8%) through nasal feeding tube, 20 (30.3%) through intermittent bolus infusion and 46 (69.7%) through continuous infusion. As for the formulas, 19 patients (28.8%) were given whole protein formula, 33 (50%) extensively hydrolyzed formula and 14 (21.2%) free amino acid-based formula. During the follow-up, 10 patients (71.4%) in gastrostomy group experienced 18 cases of catheter-related complications, including accidental removal (6 patients, 42.8%), catheter displacement (4 patients, 18.6%) and excessive granulation tissue at the gastrostomy site (4 patients, 18.6%). In nasal tube feeding group, 14 patients (26.9%) experienced 21 cases of catheter-related complications, including accidental tube removal (19 cases in 12 patients, 23.1%) and tube breakage (2 patients, 3.8%). Both the weight for age Z score and the height for age Z score were improved after HEN.Conclusions:HEN can help to improve the nutrition status in postoperative neonates. Management of catheter-related complications is challenging and warrants team work to improve the outcome of HEN.