Oxygen desaturation complicates feeding in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia after discharge.

Recurrent episodes of hypoxemia may affect the growth, cardiac function, neurologic outcome, and survival of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). As oral feeding might stress these infants by compromising pulmonary function even after hospital discharge, we measured oxygen saturation (SaO2) via pulse oximetry before, during the initial 10 minutes of, and immediately after oral feeding in 11 patients with BPD, 12 very low birth weight infants, and 23 healthy full-term infants. All infants with BPD had been previously discharged from the hospital after weaning from supplemental oxygen. Studies were done at a mean postconceptional age of 43 weeks while the infants were fed at home by one of their parents. Levels of SaO2 for the three groups were comparable before and during feeds. After feeding, the infants with BPD had significantly lower mean levels of SaO2 (84 +/- 8% [SD] vs 93 +/- 4% and 93 +/- 3%, respectively; P less than .01). They also spent more time after feeding with an SaO2 less than 90% (64 +/- 34% of time vs 27 +/- 33% for the very low birth weight and 22 +/- 20% for the term group; P less than .01) and greater time with an SaO2 less than 80% (37 +/- 28% vs 4 +/- 10% and 4 +/- 8%, respectively; P less than .01). Desaturation in infants with BPD was related to larger volume and faster oral intake during feeding. Thus, the data indicate that desaturation after feeding remains a recurrent problem for survivors of BPD after discharge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Behavioral assessment and management of food refusal in children with cystic fibrosis.

Four children with cystic fibrosis, ranging in age from 10 to 40 months, were admitted to a specialized pediatric unit for evaluation and treatment of malnutrition. All were below the fifth percentile for weight despite appropriate pancreatic enzyme replacement and outpatient nutritional counseling. Dietary evaluation revealed oral intake of 48% to 62% of that required for growth. Standardized nursing and psychological assessments of feeding behaviors during meals indicated a low acceptance rate of foods and a high rate of maladaptive feeding behaviors. Treatment consisted of behavioral management using positive reinforcement of food acceptance, extinction of negative behaviors, and parent training. Mean percentage of caloric intake increased from 54% to 92% for the four patients. At long-term follow-up, the patients who continued the program demonstrated substantial and persistent catch-up growth. Behavioral feeding disorders may contribute to failure to thrive in patients with cystic fibrosis and must be considered when growth failure occurs despite correct medical management and apparently mild pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement.