Evidence-based feeding guidelines for very low-birth-weight infants

Adv Neonatal Care. 2002 Feb;2(1):5-18. doi: 10.1053/adnc.2002.31511.

Abstract

Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the nutritional management of premature infants are limited. This project focused on the development of a research-based enteral feeding CPG for infants of < 1,500 g. The CPG was based on an extensive literature review and developed through a process of consensus decision making by a team of clinical researchers. Infants that weigh < 1,000 g initiate minimal enteral nutrition (MEN) at 48 hours; nutritional feedings begin on day 5 to 6 of life. For infants between 1,000 and 1,500 g, nutritional feedings begin at 48 hours and are advanced at a rate of less than 30 mL/kg per day. The benefits and risks of continuous versus intermittent nasogastric tube feeding were inconclusive; therefore, the CPG does not stipulate a feeding method. Breast milk is used preferentially, and specific guidelines for the definition and management of feeding intolerance are provided. A follow-up study testing this CPG has been completed and is published in the original research section of this issue.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Consensus
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Feeding Methods / nursing
  • Humans
  • Indomethacin / therapeutic use
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
  • Intensive Care, Neonatal / standards*
  • Neonatal Nursing / methods
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*

Substances

  • Indomethacin