Enteral nutrition for preterm infants: by bolus or continuous? An update


Submitted: 7 June 2017
Accepted: 21 June 2017
Published: 28 June 2017
Abstract Views: 7015
PDF: 4265
HTML: 1283
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Optimization of nutritional management of preterm infants is crucial for achievement of their long-term health. Enteral nutrition is preferred to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) because the former avoids complications related to vascular catheterization, sepsis, adverse effects of TPN, and fasting. Due to the lack of ability of preterm infants to coordinate suckling, swallowing, and breathing, tube feeding is necessary for most infants less than 1500 g to ensure sufficient feeding tolerance, to support optimal growth and to reduce the risk of aspiration. Therefore, feeding by orogastric or nasogastric tube using either continuous or intermittent bolus delivery of formula or human milk is common practice for these infants. Theoretical risks and benefits of both continuous nasogastric milk feeding and intermittent bolus milk feeding have been proposed. According to the literature, continuous nutrition could be preferred in smaller infants (as those with a birthweight below 1250 g) or hemodynamically impaired infants; in stable growing infants nutrition can be administered intermittently as in healthy term infants.

Valentina Bozzetti, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Paolo E. Tagliabue, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Supporting Agencies

Merqurio Editore

Bozzetti, V., & Tagliabue, P. E. (2017). Enteral nutrition for preterm infants: by bolus or continuous? An update. La Pediatria Medica E Chirurgica, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2017.159

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations