title: Intermittent Bolus or Semicontinuous Feeding for Preterm Infants?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical benefits and risks of semicontinuous (CON) versus intermittent nasogastric tube feeding in low-birth-weight infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants with a birth weight <1750 g and gestational age <32 weeks were stratified according to birth weight and assigned to either CON or intermittent bolus (BOL) feeding. The primary endpoint was days to full enteral feeding (defined as 120 mL(-1) · kg(-1) · day(-1)). We also collected data on feeding tolerance, weight gain, respiratory support, and complications (sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis, and death).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the 2 groups (CON n = 121, BOL n = 125) in days to reach full enteral feeding--7 (5-10) versus 6 (5-8) days, respectively, with a difference 1 (-0.05 to 2.1). Mean daily gastric residual volumes, however, were significantly lower in the BOL group (4.8 vs 3.9 mL/day, difference 0.9 mL/day [0.1-1.7]), as was the total number of patients with feeding interruptions (76 vs 59, difference 16% [3%-28%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bolus and continuous feeding are equally suitable feeding strategies for preterm neonates. BOL feeding, however, may be preferable.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Paediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam ‡Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lyanne W W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Rövekamp-Abels
authors.forename: Jacomine E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hogewind-Schoonenboom
authors.forename: Daphne P M
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Wijs-Meijler
authors.forename: Margaux D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Maduro
authors.forename: Marijke C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jansen-van der Weide
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
authors.forename: Jessie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hulst
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005865:Gestational Age; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D015430:Weight Gain