Enteral feeding in prostaglandin-dependent neonates: is it a safe practice?

Lisa Willis1, Patti Thureen, Jonathan Kaufman

  • 1Heart Institute, The Children's Hospital of Denver, University of Colorado at Denver & Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Early enteral feeding is safe for neonates with prostaglandin-dependent heart conditions, improving nutrition. This practice allows for timely nutritional support in vulnerable infants, preventing deficiencies.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Prostaglandin-dependent cardiac lesions in neonates often lead to delayed enteral feeding.
  • Delayed feeding can result in significant nutritional deficiencies in these vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and feasibility of early enteral feeding in neonates with prostaglandin-dependent cardiac lesions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study design.
  • Inclusion of 34 neonates receiving prostaglandin for cardiac lesions.
  • Monitoring of feeding tolerance in infants initiated on early enteral feeds.

Main Results:

  • 33 out of 34 neonates demonstrated successful feeding tolerance.
  • Early enteral feeding was well-tolerated in the studied population.

Conclusions:

  • Early enteral feeding is a safe and feasible practice for neonates with prostaglandin-dependent cardiac lesions.
  • This approach can help mitigate nutritional deficiencies in this patient group.

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