A comparison of nasojejunal witn nasogastric feedings in low-birth-weight infants.

Abstract

Drew, J. H., Johnston, R., Finocchiaro, C., Taylor, P. S., and Goldberg, H. J. (1979) Aust. Paediatr. J., 15, 98–100. A comparison of nasojejunal with nasogastric feedings in low‐birth‐weight infants. A controlled, prospective comparison of the nasojejunal feeding route with the nasogastric feeding route was performed in 44 low‐birth‐weight infants. No benefits in growth occurred in Infants fed via the nasojejunal route, and, in fact, less calories were administered to these infants. No detrimental effects were observed on many biochemical and haematological parameters measured, except, serum total protein and albumin concentrations which were lower in infants fed via the nasojejunal route. An increase in complications occurred in infants fed via the nasojejunal route, and, in particular, two infants fed via that way developed fatal necrotizing enterocolitis compared with one infant fed via the nasogastric route. The only infant that died due to the massive milk‐aspiration syndrome was fed via the nasojejunal route. Because of the lack of significant benefits and because of the potential increase in complications of feedings given via the nasojejunal route, this method cannot be recommended as the routine method of feeding low‐birth‐weight infants.