The dilemma of feeding during the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus with oral ibuprofen in preterm infants ≤30 weeks of gestation-a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of minimal enteral feeding (MEN) versus withholding feeding on time to reach full feeds during treatment of hs-PDA with oral ibuprofen in infants ≤30 weeks. We performed a single-center, randomized control trial of 126 premature infants born ≤30 weeks gestation, <7 days of age with hs-PDA comparing continuation of MEN (n = 64) vs no feeding (n = 62) during treatment. The primary outcome was time to reach a feed volume of 150 ml/kg/day. Secondary outcomes included were episodes of feed intolerance, GI bleed, NEC and other comorbidities. There was no difference in the time to reach full feeds - median age of 16 days in both groups (p = 0.573). Incidence of feed intolerance, NEC and other secondary outcomes were also similar in both groups. Continuing MEN during treatment of hs-PDA with oral ibuprofen does not decrease time to reach full enteral feeds in very preterm infants.