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[Association Between Different Modes of Respiratory Support and Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Infants: A
Ting Zhang1,2, Yi Feng1,2, Yong Hu1,2
1( 610041) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Insights
High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may reduce feeding intolerance in preterm infants. Other respiratory support modes like nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP), and invasive ventilation may increase feeding intolerance risk.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Respiratory Care
Context:
- Preterm infants often require respiratory support, increasing their risk of feeding intolerance.
- Enteral feeding is crucial for preterm infant growth but can be complicated by respiratory support needs.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between various respiratory support methods and feeding intolerance in hospitalized preterm infants.
- To offer evidence-based recommendations for optimizing enteral feeding strategies in this vulnerable population.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 272 preterm infants, comparing feeding intolerance incidence across different respiratory support modes.
- High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) showed a trend towards reduced feeding intolerance compared to normobaric oxygen.
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP), and invasive ventilation were associated with a potential increase in feeding intolerance, though statistical significance was not reached.
Impact:
- Findings suggest HFNC may be a preferred respiratory support method to minimize feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
- Highlights the need for careful enteral feeding management when utilizing NCPAP, BIPAP, or invasive ventilation.
- Underscores the necessity for larger studies to confirm these associations and refine clinical guidelines.
Objective:
To explore the relationship between different modes of respiratory support and feeding intolerance (FI) in preterm infants over the course of their hospitalization and to provide recommendations for the management of enteral feeding in preterm infants requiring respiratory support.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed with the preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University between June 2015 and November 2018. The modes of respiratory support were used as independent variables and FI was used as the outcome indicator. The preterm infants were grouped according to the specific modes of respiratory support they were on over the course of their hospitalization and the relationship between each mode of respiratory support and FI was compared.
Results:
A total of 272 preterm infants were enrolled in the study. After adjusting for confounding factors, findings from logistics regression suggested that, compared with normobaric oxygen, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) might reduce the incidence of FI (odds ratio [OR]=0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06-4.77), while other modes of respiratory support might increase the incidence of FI. Compared with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) and invasive ventilation might increase the incidence of FI, with the adjusted OR being 1.31 and 1.69, and 95% CI being 0.67-2.55 and 0.65-4.41, respectively. The incidence of FI in BIPAP and invasive ventilation was similar (adjusted OR=1.00, 95% CI: 0.41-2.42). However, the P-values of the above results were all greater than 0.05.
Conclusion:
HFNC has the lowest incidence of FI in the respiratory support modes examined in this study. Attention should be paid to enteral feeding management when using NCPAP, BIPAP, and invasive ventilation to avoid the occurrence of FI. Given the limited sample size, further research is warranted to confirm the conclusion.
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