Does Feeding Intolerance in Very Low Birth Weight Premature Infants Predict Necrotizing Enterocolitis?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), risk factors, and feeding intolerance in very low birth weight premature newborns. METHODS: The cases who were born under 30 weeks of gestational age and developed feeding intolerance were evaluated retrospectively for NEC. RESULTS: Necrotizing enterocolitis was detected in 17(31.5%) of 54 patients with feeding intolerance. Besides, stage 3 NEC was detected in 2 patients without any signs of feeding intolerance. The mean birth weight of the patients was 970 +- 300 g and gestational age was 27 +- 5 weeks. When the risk factors were examined, preeclampsia, clean residues, biliary residues, more than 50% residues, abdominal distension and delayed stool exit were found statistically significant differences in the NEC group. Abdominal distention and the presence of more than 50% residues were the highest sensitivity among the two groups. The highest specificity was found in the presence of clean residues, the highest negative predictive value was abdominal distension, the highest positive predictive value was the presence of abdominal distention, and biliary residues. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although it is not recommended as a standard in larger premature and term infants, residual follow-up in very low birth weight premature babies may provide important clues in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Keywords

• feeding intolerance
• necrotizing enterocolitis
• very low birth weight infant