title: Feasibility of exclusive enteral feeds from birth in VLBW infants >1200 g--an RCT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of initiation of exclusive enteral feeds on first day of life in very low birthweight infants >1200 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haemodynamically stable infants with birthweights 1200-1500 g irrespective of gestational age were randomized into two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enteral feeds 80 mL/kg/day started within 1 h of birth and increased by 20 mL/kg/day to 180 mL/kg/day. No intravenous fluids given.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravenous fluids 50 mL/kg/day started along with enteral feeds 30 mL/kg/day within 1 h of birth and increased by 20 mL/kg/day to 180 mL/kg/day. The outcome measures were - primary: time to regain birthweight and secondary: duration of hospital stay, incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty three babies randomized in each group. Infants in study group regained birthweight earlier [mean 5.52 days, SD ± 2.94] compared to those in control group [mean 12.7 days, SD ± 2.25] (p < 0.0001). Duration of hospital stay was lower in study group [mean 15.04 days, SD ± 5.26] compared to those in control group [mean 28.04 days, SD ± 6.76] (p < 0.0001). No necrotizing enterocolitis detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to initiate exclusive enteral feeds from first day of life in stable infants with birthweight between 1200 and 1500 g without any parenteral fluid support. It leads to twice as faster regaining of birthweight and halves duration of hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India. kpsanghvi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kishore P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Sanghvi
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nabi
authors.forename: Nandkishor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kabra
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology