Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Manipulation of Rhythmic Food Intake in Mice Using a Custom-Made Feeding System
07:34

Manipulation of Rhythmic Food Intake in Mice Using a Custom-Made Feeding System

Published on: December 16, 2022

2.9K

Early Total Enteral Feeding versus Conventional Enteral Feeding in Stable Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Randomised

Sushma Nangia1, Vinoth Vadivel2, Anu Thukral3

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated hospitals, New Delhi, India, drsnangia@gmail.com.

Neonatology
|January 31, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Early total enteral feeding (ETEF) in stable very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants helps them achieve full enteral feeds sooner. This approach also reduces hospital stay duration without increasing risks of feed intolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Nutrition and Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

  • Optimizing nutritional support is crucial for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  • Conventional enteral feeding (CEF) protocols may delay achieving full enteral feeds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare early total enteral feeding (ETEF) with CEF in stable VLBW infants.
  • To assess the impact of ETEF on the time to achieve full enteral feeds.

Main Methods:

  • An unblinded randomized controlled trial involving 180 stable VLBW infants.
  • Infants were assigned to either ETEF (initiated with total enteral feeds) or CEF (initiated with minimal enteral nutrition).
  • Primary outcome: postnatal age at full enteral feeds; secondary outcomes: feed intolerance, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and hospital stay duration.

Main Results:

  • ETEF group achieved full enteral feeds significantly earlier (6.5 days) compared to CEF (10.1 days).
  • ETEF group experienced fewer episodes of feed intolerance and clinical sepsis.
  • Hospital stay duration was shorter in the ETEF group (15.5 days) versus CEF (19.6 days); NEC incidence was similar.

Conclusions:

  • Early total enteral feeding (ETEF) is effective in accelerating the achievement of full enteral feeds in stable VLBW infants.
  • ETEF reduces hospital stay duration without increasing the risk of feed intolerance or NEC.
  • This feeding strategy offers a beneficial approach to neonatal intensive care for VLBW infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Early total enteral feedingNecrotising enterocolitisVery-low-birth-weight infants

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Robust Culture of Human Enteric Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells05:11

Author Spotlight: Robust Culture of Human Enteric Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: May 17, 2024

2.1K
High-fat Feeding Paradigm for Larval Zebrafish: Feeding, Live Imaging, and Quantification of Food Intake11:30

High-fat Feeding Paradigm for Larval Zebrafish: Feeding, Live Imaging, and Quantification of Food Intake

Published on: October 27, 2016

11.1K

Related Concept Videos

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding01:26

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding

Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients directly to the stomach or small intestine through a tube. This method is appropriate for patients who cannot eat but still have a functioning digestive system. It is also beneficial for individuals with swallowing difficulties, anorexia, malabsorption, or those who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
1.5K
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
970
Birth Control Methods01:22

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
6.7K
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route01:18

Drug Delivery: Enteral Route

The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
1.7K
Routes of Drug Administration: Enteral01:18

Routes of Drug Administration: Enteral

Medications can be administered through the enteral route using liquids, capsules, or tablets.
Enteral administration involves drug administration via the mouth in two ways: orally or sublingually.
Unlike sublingually drugs, drugs that are taken orally pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and get metabolized by the liver. Once metabolized, the drug is absorbed into the systemic circulation, reaching different body parts via the bloodstream. However, while passing through the stomach,...
6.4K
Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health01:05

Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health

The gastrointestinal tract, responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, is safeguarded by the intestinal barrier, which consists of secretory, physical, and immune components. At the forefront is the secretory barrier, composed of essential elements such as mucus, gut microbiota, and defense proteins. They collaborate to break down food particles, facilitate nutrient absorption, and maintain optimal gut health. These secretory components ensure the smooth functioning of the...
970