Oropharyngeal colostrum administration in neonates with gastroschisis: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of colostrum therapy on days to start a suckling diet in newborns diagnosed with simple gastroschisis.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial with newborns diagnosed with simple gastroschisis at a federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro who were randomized to receive oropharyngeal administration of 0.2mL of colostrum or a "sham procedure" during the first 3 days of life. The analysis included clinical outcomes such as days without food, days with parenteral feeding, days until the start of enteral feeding, days to reach complete enteral feeding, sepsis and length of hospital stay.

Results: The onset of oral feeding (suction) in patients with simple gastroschisis in both groups occurred at a median of 15 days.

Conclusion: The present study showed that there were no significant differences in the use of colostrum therapy and the number of days to the start of enteral feeding and suction diet between groups of newborns with simple gastroschisis.