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Time of the first defaecation and urination in very low birth weight infants
Insights
Delayed first stool passage is common in very low birth weight infants due to gut immaturity and feeding. This finding highlights potential issues in neonatal gastrointestinal development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- The first stool and urine passage are key indicators of neonatal adaptation.
- Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500g) often experience physiological challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and factors associated with delayed first stool and urine passage in VLBW infants.
- To identify potential correlations between delayed meconium and urine excretion and perinatal characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 111 VLBW infants.
- Recording time of first stool and urine passage.
- Comparing infants with delayed (>24h) versus normal passage times.
Main Results:
- 22.5% of VLBW infants had delayed first stool passage (>24h), with 6.3% delayed >48h.
- Significant differences in gestational age and first enteral feeding time were observed between delayed and non-delayed stool passage groups.
- Only 2.7% of infants experienced delayed first urine passage, with no significant perinatal factors identified.
Conclusions:
- Delayed first stool passage is a frequent occurrence in VLBW infants, likely linked to gastrointestinal immaturity and delayed enteral feeding.
- Physiological immaturity of gut motility and hormonal responses to feeding may contribute to delayed meconium excretion.
- Perinatal factors did not significantly influence delayed urine passage in this cohort.
Abstract:
The time for passage of the first stool and urine was studied in 111 infants who weighed less than 1500 g at birth. Delayed passage of the first stool (greater than 24 h) was noted in 25 (22.5%) infants of this group, including 7 cases (6.3%) in whom the delay was greater than 48 h (4 on the 3rd day, 2 on the 4th day, 1 on the 6th day of life, respectively). Three (2.7%) cases had delayed passage of the first urine (at 25, 25, and 45 h of life, respectively). Significant differences between the two groups with delayed and nondelayed passage of the first stool were noted in both the gestational age and in the time of the first enteral feeding. In very low birth weight infants, delay in the passage of the first stool is a common occurrence. This delay is probably due to physiological immaturity of the motor mechanisms of the gut, and lack of triggering effect of enteral feeds on gut hormones. As far as passage of the first urine was concerned, there were no significant perinatal factors found between the delayed and nondelayed groups.