Gastric emptying in very-low-birth-weight infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.
OBJECTIVE
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is frequently used for prolonged periods in very low birth weight infants. We asked if NCPAP affects gastric emptying.


METHODS
Preterm newborn infants (n = 16) with a mean body weight of 935 g (SD, 155) and a mean gestational age of 27.7 weeks (SD, 1.9) were treated with NCPAP and fed by orogastric tube. A comparison group of 20 newborn infants with a mean body weight of 1090 grams (SD, 130) and a mean gestational age of 28.2 weeks (SD, 1.2) were not receiving NCPAP. All newborn infants received a milk formula containing 81 kcal/dL given in similar quantities. The antral cross-sectional area was measured by means of an ultrasound technique.


RESULTS
Mean half-time of antral cross-sectional area was 28 minutes (SD, 12) in the NCPAP group and 40 minutes (SD, 17) in the comparison group ( P < .05). There were no differences in gastrointestinal complications between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The gastric emptying time was shorter for newborn infants treated with NCPAP.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Department of Ultrasonography, Agios Panteleimon Regional General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece. gounaran@ath.forthnet.gr <gounaran@ath.forthnet.gr>
Antonis
A
Gounaris
Christos
C
Costalos
Lia
L
Varchalama
Phedra
P
Kokori
Efi
E
Kolovou
Niki
N
Alexiou
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies