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[Clinical features of feeding intolerance in preterm infants]
Zhen Tang1, Ying Zhou, Ming-Xia Li
1Division of Neonatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
Insights
Feeding intolerance affects over 27% of preterm infants, particularly those with very low birth weight. Key factors include low gestational age, low birth weight, and delayed feeding, highlighting the need for early intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Context:
- Feeding intolerance is a common complication in preterm infants.
- Early identification and management are crucial for improving outcomes in vulnerable neonates.
Purpose:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
- To identify risk factors associated with feeding intolerance to inform prevention strategies.
Summary:
- This retrospective study analyzed 716 preterm infants, finding a 27.5% incidence of feeding intolerance, with higher rates in very low birth weight infants.
- Simple gastric retention was the most frequent manifestation, typically occurring within 3 days of feeding.
- Lower gestational age, lower birth weight, delayed feeding, and complications like asphyxia and respiratory diseases were significantly associated with feeding intolerance.
Impact:
- Findings provide clinical evidence for the prevention of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
- Highlights the importance of optimizing feeding protocols and managing complications in neonatal intensive care units.
Objective:
To study the clinical features of feeding intolerance in preterm infants in order to provide clinical evidence for preventing feeding intolerance.
Methods:
A total of 716 preterm infants hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between January 2007 and December 2009 were enrolled. The clinical data of the infants were retrospectively studied.
Results:
Feeding intolerance occurred in 197 (27.5%) out of 716 infants, with an incidence of 76.4% in the very low birth weight infants. Simple gastric retention (47.2%) was found as the most common clinical manifestation. Feeding intolerance usually occurred within 3 days after feeding. Compared with the preterm infants with feeding success, the preterm infants with feeding intolerance showed lower gestational age and birth weight, more delayed feeding and higher rate of asphyxia and respiratory diseases (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the gender, maternal age, ethnic group, delivery way and the incidence of fetal distress between the two groups. With increasing gestational age, increasing birth weight, early feeding, the incidence of feeding intolerance in preterm infants was reduced.
Conclusions:
The low gestational age, low birth weight, delayed feeding and complications may be associated with the development of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
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