NICU infants who require a feeding gastrostomy for discharge

Objective: To determine population data for infants receiving a gastrostomy tube (GT) in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to better understand the premature infant population at risk for GT prior to discharge. Study design: We identified all NICU infants born 2015-2016 who received a GT and determined the birth gestational age below which GTs were placed due to oral feeding failure secondary to prematurity-related comorbidities, rather than anomalies or other reasons. Aggregate data were used to compare infants born <30 weeks (w) gestation who received a GT with those who did not. Results: GTs were placed in 117 infants. More than half of the NICU patients who receive GTs were actually > 32 weeks gestation; a cut-off of <30w was a good identifier for those who failed achieving full oral feeds due to prematurity-related problems. Infants born <30w (n = 282) not receiving GTs were discharged at a significantly lower postmenstrual age (36w) and lower weight (2.3 kg) compared with infants who received a GT (49w, 5 kg). Conclusions: The population of premature infants born <30w gestation constitute the population of infants at risk for a GT based solely on prematurity. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to determine the population data for infants receiving a gastrostomy tube in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, finding that premature infants born before 30 weeks gestation are at a higher risk of needing a gastrostomy tube prior to discharge. The study results indicated that infants born before 30 weeks gestation are more likely to require a gastrostomy tube, with prematurity-related issues leading to oral feeding failure.