Prematurity, Feeding Disorder Neonatal
Conditions
Keywords
Prematurity, Enteral nutrition, Feeding tolerance, Temperature
Brief summary
Feeding intolerance is frequent among preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Although there are many studies about enteral nutrition strategies and content in preterm infants, no evidence-based standards exist for the optimal milk temperature for preterm infants. Therefore, in this study the investigators aimed to examine the effects of feeding temperature and the possible morbidities.
Detailed description
Feeding intolerance is one of the most frequent problems among preterm infants. These infants are fed with expressed breast milk or preterm formulas of which the temperature is not routinely measured. In this study, the investigators aimed to examine the effects of feeds with warm versus room temperature milk in preterm infants. Infants with a birth weight of ≤1500 g or gestational age of ≤ 34 weeks were included in the study and assigned to two different feeding temperature groups (22-24°C and 32-34°C). Some infants in both groups were exclusive breast milk fed and some received artificial milk. Feeding tolerance of patients in both groups and the consequences were evaluated.
Interventions
OTHERRoom temperature
These infants were fed with room temperature (22-24 °C) so that hypothesizing that they will have more feeding tolerance and therefore more co-existing morbidities.
OTHERWarmer temperature
Fifteen NICU mothers volunteered and expressed their milk for rapid measurement of freshly expressed breast milk. The mean (± SD) temperature of freshly expressed breast milk was found to be 33±1.5 °C in these preliminary measurements. Confirming this finding, the investigators decided to feed these infants with milk at 32 - 34 °C to examine the effects of feeding temperature and the possible comorbidities with a hypothesis that warmer feeding at the temperature of freshly expressed breast milk may be better physiologically.
Sponsors
Ege University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The infants were randomly assigned using the last digit of their hospital identification number to two different groups with different feeding temperatures. Only the nurse giving the primary care was not blinded.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Days to 30 Days
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Infants born to birth weight of ≤1500 g * Infants born to gestational age of ≤ 34 weeks
Exclusion criteria
* Genetic syndrome * Gastrointestinal system anomalies * Patients born small for their gestational age
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric residual volume in mililitres after every feeding | through study completion, an average of 6 months | Gastric residual volume amount during the study |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Transition time to total enteral feeding | through study completion, an average of 6 months | The time needed for transition time to total enteral feeding |
| Daily weight gain | through study completion, an average of 6 months | The daily weight gain of the infant during the study |
| Need for anti reflux treatment | through study completion, an average of 6 months | ıf the infant needed antireflux treatment, the treatment options were recorded |
| Body weight at discharge | through study completion, an average of 6 months | Body weight at discharge |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed