The Fear of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Versus Achieving Optimal Growth in Preterm Infants--an Opinion

Overview

Journal Acta Paediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2006 Oct 26

PMID 17062457

Citations 13

Authors

Orna Flidel-Rimon

David Branski

Eric S Shinwell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unlabelled: Very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants suffer marked growth delay despite well-intentioned efforts at combining enteral and parenteral nutrition. Fear of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has traditionally influenced neonatologists toward delaying and progressing slowly with enteral feeding, while supporting the infant with parenteral nutrition. Current evidence suggests significant benefits of enteral feeding that is started early and advanced at rates of 20-35 ml/kg/d.

Conclusion: We conclude that fear of inadequate growth should replace the fear of NEC in guiding nutritional strategies for these infants.

Citing Articles

Impact of time to full enteral feeding on long-term neurodevelopment without mediating by postnatal growth failure in very-low-birth-weight-infants.

Yoon S, Lee M, Chang Y Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):2990.

PMID: 36804430 PMC: 9941577. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29646-1.

Clinical and growth outcomes after meconium-related ileus improved with Gastrografin enema in very low birth weight infants.

Song W, Yoon H, Kim S PLoS One. 2022; 17(8):e0272915.

PMID: 35951504 PMC: 9371358. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272915.

[Evidence-based standardized nutrition protocol can shorten the time to full enteral feeding in very preterm/very low birth weight infants].

Wang L, Zhao X, Liu H, Deng L, Liang H, Duan S Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2022; 24(6):648-653.

PMID: 35762431 PMC: 9250396. DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2202121.

Delayed introduction of progressive enteral feeds to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.

Young L, Oddie S, McGuire W Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022; 1:CD001970.

PMID: 35049036 PMC: 8771918. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001970.pub6.

Slow advancement of enteral feed volumes to prevent necrotising enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.

Oddie S, Young L, McGuire W Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021; 8:CD001241.

PMID: 34427330 PMC: 8407506. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001241.pub8.