Effect of four kinds of interventions on feeding intolerance in preterm infants

Abstract

Objective To compare the impact of four kinds of interventions (intermittent enteral feeding, continuous enteral feeding, motilium, low-dose erythromycin) on feeding intolerance in preterm infants. Methods 160 cases preterm infants with feeding intolerance (28～32 weeks of gestational age) were divided into 4 groups :intermittent enteral feeding ,continuous enteral feeding,oral motilium and intravenous infusion of low-dose erythromycin treatment group. We recorded the amount of each feeding, the disappearance time of vomiting,abdominal distension,gastric retention,and the time of total enteral nutrition feeding. We observed the characteristics of meconinm excretion. We recorded the daily body weight to calculate the growth rate,and observed the time period of their body weight return to its birth weight. Results Meconium discharge time and total enteral nutrition feeding time of the intermittent feeding group were (3.6±1.6) days and ( 15.8±5.6) days,those of continuous feeding group were (5.2±2. 0) days and( 17. 1±4. 4) days,showing significant difference between these two groups ( P < 0. 05 ). The rate of improving feeding intolerance in the 4 groups were 37. 5% ,32. 5% ,80. 0% and 87.5% ,and there was significant difference between the furst two groups and the after two groups ( P < 0. 05 ). The disappearance time of vomiting in the four groups were(4. 33±2. 49) days, (4. 85±2. 14) days, (2.97±1.27) days and(2. 16±1.65) days,showing significant difference between the first two groups and the following two groups( P <0.05). The disappearance time of abdominal distension in the low-dose erythromycin groups was (2. 47±1.34) days, and that in the motilium group was (3. 59±1.35 ) days, showing significant difference between the two groups ( P <0. 05 ). Conclusion Both motilium and low-dose erythromycin can improve feeding intolerance in premature infants,which is recommendable for clinical application. The low-dose erythromycin is the first choice of the four groups,followed by the motiliumand intermittent enteral feeding, and the last one is continuous enteral feeding. Key words: Feeding intolerance; Premature birth; Intervention