Remote monitoring for neonates requiring continued nasogastric tube feeding: implementation, patient characteristics, and early outcomes.

Abstract

Our neonatal intensive care unit utilizes remote patient monitoring to facilitate hospital discharge with nasogastric tube (NGT) feeds. Program implementation, patient characteristics, and initial outcomes are described. Data was collected prospectively in this implementation study. Descriptive statistics define weight gain, number of NGT feed days, number of days on monitoring, and physician time spent. Patient characteristics, readmissions, and implementation details are described. One-hundred and four babies consented to and completed data collection. Average weight gain on monitoring was 31.4 g/day (SD 10.2). Eighty-nine babies (85.6%) achieved full oral feeds while on the program, requiring a median 5 NGT feed days (IQR 2-13) and a median 15 days on monitoring (IQR 11-27). Average physician time spent was 9.1 min per day (SD 3.7). Six babies (5.8%) had unscheduled readmissions while on the program. Remote monitoring programs can facilitate discharge for babies with continued NGT needs.