A national survey of the enteral feeding practices in Canadian neonatal intensive care units.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Nutrition affects the growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants, yet controversies exist about the optimal enteral feeding regime. The objective of this study was to compare enteral feeding guidelines in Canadian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Method

The research team identified key enteral feeding practices of interest. Canadian Neonatal Network site investigators at 30 Level 3 NICUs were contacted to obtain a copy of their 2016 to 2017 feeding guidelines for infants who weighed less than 1,500 g at birth. Each guideline was reviewed to compare recommendations around the selected feeding practices.

Results

Five of the 30 NICUs did not have a feeding guideline. The other 25 NICUs used 22 different enteral feeding guidelines. The guidelines

SUBMITTER: Xu JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7739540 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature