Incidence, Clinical Signs and Co-morbidities of Feeding Intolerance among Preterm Infants Aged 28-34 Weeks of Gestation in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Nepal- A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Feeding intolerance is common among the preterm neonates and is associated with different co-morbidities like respiratory depression, respiratory distress syndrome, apnea, hyperbilirubinaemia, and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Aim: To find the incidence of feeding intolerance in preterm neonates from 28-34 weeks of gestation along with the clinical signs and co-morbidities associated with feeding intolerance. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational hospital based study was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and postnatal ward of Universal College of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care hospital situated in western Nepal for 12 months (June 2018 to May 2019). All admitted preterm neonates between 28-34 weeks of gestation were included in the study and were followed-up for any neonatal morbidities along with feeding intolerance. Feeding intolerance was defined when the newborn had vomiting and/or abdominal distension and/or increased gastric residual volume with normal disruption of feeding process. Babies with feeding intolerance were subjected to final analysis for clinical signs and co-morbidities. Results: Out of 490 admitted preterm babies (28-34 weeks), 54 (11.02%) had feeding intolerance with 33 (61.1%) babies in the very low birth weight group. The mean birth weights of the total enrolled babies (n=490) and feed intolerant (n=54) babies were 1550 gm and 1418 gm, respectively. Different co- morbidities associated with feeding intolerance were respiratory distress (25.9%), respiratory distress syndrome (22.2%), jaundice (16.7%), apnea (5.6%) and necrotising enterocolitis (3.7%). Among the total 37 preterm deaths, four babies were in the feeding intolerance group. Majority of all feed intolerant babies had vomiting 49 (90.7%) followed by gastric residue (57.4%), abdominal distension (55.6%), and reduced or absent bowel sounds (7.4%), respectively. The incidence of feeding intolerance was increased in babies fed with formula feed (p=0.46) and when feeding was started <24 hours (p=0.22) but the results were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The incidence of feeding intolerance was 11.02% in the preterm neonates (28-34 weeks) with high proportion in very low birth weight babies. Vomiting, gastric residue and abdominal distension were three important signs of feeding intolerance in newborns.