Nutritional approach to preterm infants on noninvasive ventilation: An update

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Valentina Bozzetti1, Chiara De Angelis1, Paolo E Tagliabue1

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|April 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Enteral nutrition for very-low-birth-weight infants on noninvasive ventilation presents unique challenges. This review explores strategies to optimize nutritional support while managing feeding intolerance and respiratory function.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Nutrition and pulmonary function are closely linked in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs).
  • Preterm infants requiring noninvasive ventilation may experience respiratory instability affecting feeding tolerance.
  • Feeding can potentially impair pulmonary function in these vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the challenges and current strategies for enteral feeding in preterm infants receiving noninvasive ventilation.
  • To highlight the distinct nutritional requirements of ventilated preterm infants.
  • To discuss methods for ensuring adequate caloric intake while preventing feeding intolerance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on nutrition and noninvasive ventilation in preterm infants.
  • Analysis of feeding tolerance and pulmonary function outcomes.
  • Synthesis of evidence-based recommendations for nutritional support.

Main Results:

  • Infants on noninvasive ventilation have specific nutritional needs.
  • Respiratory instability can complicate enteral feeding.
  • Strategies exist to balance caloric intake with feeding tolerance.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing enteral nutrition in VLBWIs on noninvasive ventilation requires careful consideration of respiratory status.
  • Individualized feeding plans are crucial.
  • Further research is needed to refine nutritional strategies for this population.

Keywords:
Enteral nutritionGrowthNoninvasive ventilationNutritional requirementsPreterm infants

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