title: Growth velocity of extremely low birth weight preterms at a tertiary neonatal unit in South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is wide variation in the feeding practices of extreme low birth weight (ELBW) preterms often guided by tradition and resources. The feeding regimen at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) nursery, a tertiary neonatal unit, follows a restricted use of parenteral nutrition and concentrates on early introduction of breast milk. There is a need to determine whether this approach achieves acceptable growth velocity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe the growth velocity of ELBW babies at GSH.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infant hospital records of all ELBW babies born at GSH from 1 March to 31 August 2010 were accessed from a previously collected database and relevant data extracted. Growth data were collected from birth to 8 weeks postnatal age or discharge, whichever came first.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one ELBW babies were born during the study period. Forty were excluded from the study. Thirty died before discharge, and 10 were excluded for other reasons. The mean (SD) gestation of the cohort was 28.5 (1.6) weeks, and the median (range) birth weight was 875 (640-995) g. The overall mean (SD) growth velocity was 14 (2.9) g/kg/day. There was no statistically significant association between the growth velocity and the type of feed given, days to establishing full enteral feeds, time to regaining birth weight, HIV exposure status, intra-uterine growth restriction or exposure to antenatal steroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our cohort of ELBW infants, growth velocity was within the range currently deemed acceptable by international consensus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. moseslango@gmail.com
authors.forename: Moses Oringo
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Lango
authors.forename: Alan Richard
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic