Factors Influencing the Time to Full Enteral Feeding in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated the factors influencing the time to reach full enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants. We compared the days of life to start tube or oral feeding, to regain birth weight, and to establish full enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants and determined the risk factors delaying full enteral feeding. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 214 newborn infants less than 1,500 g at birth, who were delivered at Chonnam National University Hospital from January 1, 1997 to May 31, 2000. These infants were divided into three groups by birth weight (less than 1,000 g, 1,000-1,249 g, and 1,250-1,499 g). Gestational age, birth weight, the days of life to start first tube or oral feeding, to regain bith weight and to reach full enteral feeding, and the possible risk factors delaying the progress of enteral feeding were analyzed. RESULTS: The gestational age was 29.69+/-2.33 weeks and the birth weight was 1,212+/-194.3 g. The time to start tube or oral feeding, to regain birth weight, and to establish full enteral feeding were significantly later and longer in the lower birth weight group. The time to reach full enteral feeding was related to the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, and was significantly longer in the infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), chronic lung disease (CLD), apnea, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), cystic periventricular leukomalacia, sepsis/disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, ricketts, and total parenteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: The time to reach full enteral feeding was inversely related to the birth weight, and the risk factors for delayed full enteral feeding were the presence and/or the severity of diseases related to the prematurity such as the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, RDS, CLD, apnea, IVH, and sepsis.