Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Cisapride may improve feeding tolerance of preterm infants: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Martina Kohl1, Iris Wuerdemann, Jessica Clemen
1Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany. kohl@paedia.ukl.mu-luebeck.de
Insights
Cisapride did not significantly improve enteral feeding tolerance in premature infants. Extremely low birth weight infants showed faster feeding tolerance but experienced prolonged QTc intervals and cardiac rhythm issues, suggesting potential harm.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- Enteral feeding is crucial for premature infant growth.
- Improving feeding tolerance in preterm infants is a clinical challenge.
- Cisapride has been explored to enhance gastrointestinal motility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of cisapride in improving enteral feeding tolerance in premature infants.
- To evaluate the safety profile of cisapride in this population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study.
- Involved 59 premature infants.
- Treatment continued until 150 ml/kg/day of milk were tolerated.
Main Results:
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in the cisapride group reached full enteral feeding faster.
- Significantly prolonged QTc interval was observed in the treatment group.
- Two infants experienced cardiac rhythm disturbances.
Conclusions:
- Routine cisapride use may not benefit premature infants for enteral feeding.
- Premature infants appear more susceptible to cisapride's adverse cardiac effects.
- Risk-benefit assessment is crucial before considering cisapride in neonates.
Abstract:
To evaluate the efficacy of cisapride in improving tolerance of enteral feeding, 59 premature infants were randomized into a blinded placebo-controlled study. Treatment was initiated with the introduction of enteral feeding and continued until 150 ml/kg/day of milk were tolerated. Only in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, was the time to tolerate full enteral feeding shorter in the treatment group, whereas ECG recordings showed a significantly prolonged QTc interval during treatment. Two children developed cardiac rhythm disturbances. In conclusion premature infants may not benefit from routine use of the drug to improve enteral feeding, and seem to be more vulnerable to its side effects.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS