Evaluation of a weight-based enteral feeding program for the very low birth weight infant in the neonatal intensive care unit

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2024

Publication Title

J Neonatal Nurs

Abstract

Purpose: This project was a program evaluation of the first year of implementation of weight-based fast advancement enteral feeding programs for very low birthweight preterm infants, related to adherence to the guidelines, length of indwelling central line days, and infection and growth rates.

Results: The sample consists of infants born at less than 33 weeks and less than 1500 g, n = 221; defined as pre-(n = 107) and post-program (n = 114) implementation groups further stratified into adherent (n = 53) and non-adherent (n = 58) cohorts. In the post-program adherent cohort, central line days were decreased from 17 to 10 days (p < 0.001) with no documented infection events in the first 14 days of life (p < 0.001) compared to the post-program non-adherent cohort.

Conclusion: This feeding program is an evidence-based conservative approach to fast advancement. There is evidence to support more aggressive feeding advancement in all weight categories that could further decrease both indwelling central line days and infection events.

Volume

30

Issue

4

First Page

353

Last Page

359

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