Impact of Feeding Interval on Time to Achieve Full Oral Feeding in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are scheduled to receive total feeding amount in either 3-hour or 2-hour intervals. A gavage feeding may be required if the scheduled amount is not completed orally. Feedings every 2 hours are one-third smaller than feedings every 3 hours. Thus, if the volume of each feed is reduced by decreasing the feeding interval from 3 to 2 hours, the likelihood that the infant completes each volume orally increases, and the probability of requiring gavage feeding decreases. The impact of feeding with 2-hour or 3-hour intervals on time to achieve full oral feeding in preterm infants was investigated.
METHODS: Infants on full enteral gavage feedings were randomized into 2 groups to receive feedings in either 3-hour or 2-hour intervals. The time to achieve full oral feeding and the duration of feeding transition from gavage to oral feedings were investigated. Data were presented as median (interquartile range).
RESULTS: The study included 100 infants (gestational age: 29 [28-31] weeks, birth weight: 1205 [1040-1380] g) with 50 in each group. The postmenstrual age to achieve full oral feeding was 35 (35-37) weeks in the 3-hour-interval group and 35 (34-36) weeks in the 2-hour-interval group; P = 0.131. The duration of feeding transition was similar between groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Feeding every 2 hours caused no improvement in the time to achieve full oral feeding. The 3-hour-interval feeding is appropriate for the neonatal units, where less handling of preterms and decreased workload of nurses are valuable.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes