Caloric loss from expressed mother's milk during continuous gavage infusion

Expressed mother's milk (EMM) provides innumerable immunologic and nutritional benefits. However, the nutritional value of EMM, especially the calorie-rich lipids, may be reduced during continuous gavage infusion (CGI). The purpose of the study was to compare the differences in lipid loss of EMM for two types of CGI tubing: standard bore and minibore. In an experimental design, 30 specimens of EMM were infused using a simulated CGI apparatus with a syringe pump; each of the 30 specimens was aliquotted to infuse through both types of CGI tubing. Preinfusion and postinfusion lipid concentrations were measured by the creamatocrit technique. The mean preinfusion creamatocrit value was 6.57 percent (SD = 2.09) with minimum and maximum values of 3.41 and 10.72 percent respectively (mean caloric content of 22.91 Kcal/oz). The mean postinfusion creamatocrit for standard bore tubing was 4.98 percent (SD = 1.59), with minimum and maximum values of 1.90 and 9.38 percent respectively (mean caloric content = 20.14 Kcal/oz). Mean percent of decrease in lipid concentration between preinfusion and postinfusion values for standard bore tubing was 1.59 percent (SD = 1.10) (mean caloric loss 2.77 Kcal/oz). The mean postinfusion creamatocrit value for the minibore tubing was 5.24 percent (SD = 1.77) with minimum and maximum values of 2.55 and 9.68 percent respectively. This equates to a mean caloric content of 20.59 Kcal/oz. Mean percent of decrease in lipid concentration between preinfusion and postinfusion values for minibore tubing was 1.34 percent (SD = 1.02) (mean caloric loss of 2.32 Kcal/oz).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)