Bolus Feeding Via Gastric Versus Oral Routes in Very Preterm Neonates

We intend to investigate the association of bolus orogastric tube (BOG) and nipple bottle (N) feedings with postnatal growth in very premature neonates (VPN: gestational age between 28 and 33 weeks).

The days of life (DOL) to achieve full combined oral and gastric enteral nutrition (FEN) and attain body weight (BW) of 2200 g (Wt22) and the length of hospitalization (LOH) were retrospectively associated with clinical and BOG and N feeding-related variables via multivariate regression analyses. Correlations were performed to ascertain the strength of associations.

In a cohort of 127 VPN, FEN demonstrated negative associations with gestational age (GA) and LOH and Wt22 with birth weight (BW). FEN showed positive associations with nil by mouth and intravenous fluid-nutrition days and with DOL to start and achieve full nipple feeding. LOH was associated with days on antibiotics and DOL to start and achieve full nipple feeding. Wt22 was associated with DOL to achieve full nipple feeding. The start day of BOG feeding had no independent associations and weak, highly significant positive correlations with Wt22, LOH, and FEN.

Bolus orogastric tube feeding has no independent implications for postnatal growth, duration of hospitalization, or chronological age to attain full enteral nutrition in VPN unless combined with nipple feeding to provide enteral nutrition. Oral bottle feeding accelerates postnatal catch-up growth and full enteral nutrition acquisition while reducing hospitalization duration. Initiating nipple feeding at 32 weeks of postmenstrual age may be safe in stable VPN. Antibiotic therapy increases hospitalization duration.