PREFEED ASPIRATE VS ABDOMINAL GIRTH: WHICH IS A BETTER PREDICTOR OF FEED INTOLERANCE

Dr. Ashka M. Shah; Dr. Charul Purani; Dr. K.M.Meheriya

Volume : VI, Issue : V, May - 2017

PREFEED ASPIRATE VS ABDOMINAL GIRTH: WHICH IS A BETTER PREDICTOR OF FEED INTOLERANCE

Dr. Ashka M. Shah, Dr. Charul Purani, Dr. K. M. Meheriya

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: In most cases prefeed aspirate has been given emphasis in monitoring and detecting feed intolerance and risk of NEC while augmenting feeds in VLBW babies but nowadays abdominal girth is also used .

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare abdominal girth monitoring versus prefeed aspirate in prediction of feed intolerance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study was conducted in NICU at B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad from May 2015 to August 2016 in which only healthy stable VLBW neonate babies on tube feedings and expressed east milk were included.

RESULTS: Lesser feed tolerance episodes were found in AG group. The days to reach full enteral feeds (P=0.01) were significantly lower in the AG group.

CONCLUSION: Monitoring feed intolerance by prefeed abdominal girth had advantages than prefeed aspiration.AG monitoring is thus less invasive and equally effective in monitoring feeding of VLBW babies.