Clinical Observation in Premature Babies with Feeding Intolerance

Abstract

Objective: Feeding intolerance (FI) is a digestive disorder that manifests itself with gastric residue, abdominal distension, and vomiting, especially in preterm infants, and often causes a prolongation of the transition to full enteral feeding. Nutrition strategy is a significant clinical challenge for neonatologists. It is tried to treat feeding intolerance with methods such as minimal enteral nutrition and slow increase in sustenance, probiotic use, prevention/treatment of NEC and sepsis, and use of specially formulated foods, but these methods are only partially effective. Methods: Babies under 32 weeks and 1500 g hospitalized in Konya City Hospital between August 2020 and January 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Babies with and without feeding intolerance were divided into two groups, and their demographic and clinical conditions were examined. The treatment modalities of the group with feeding intolerance were evaluated. Results: Of the 86 patients in the study, 36 were included in the FI group, and 50 were in the healthy control group. Late neonatal sepsis and duration of parenteral nutrition were found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with feeding intolerance compared to the control group (p