A groundbreaking clinical trial has demonstrated the effectiveness of early exclusive enteral feeding (EEEF) in preterm infants, offering a promising advancement in neonatal care practices. The study, conducted on infants born between 30 and 33 weeks gestation, reveals significant improvements in feeding outcomes and hospital stay duration.
Study Design and Implementation
The pragmatic randomized controlled trial enrolled 70 preterm infants, comparing two feeding approaches. The intervention group received early exclusive enteral feeding at 60-80 mL/kg/day, while the control group followed conventional feeding protocols of 20-30 mL/kg/day with intravenous fluid supplementation. Feed volumes were progressively increased by 20-30 mL/kg/day in both groups.
Significant Clinical Outcomes
The results demonstrated marked advantages for the EEEF approach. Infants receiving early exclusive enteral feeding achieved full feeds significantly faster, with a mean difference of 1.2 days shorter than the conventional feeding group. This acceleration in feeding progression translated to substantial clinical benefits.
A striking reduction in parenteral nutrition requirements was observed in the EEEF group, requiring a median of 0 hours (IQR 0, 19) compared to 91 hours (IQR 48, 132) in the conventional feeding group (P < 0.001). This significant difference highlights the potential for EEEF to minimize the risks associated with prolonged parenteral nutrition.
Impact on Medical Interventions and Hospital Stay
The implementation of EEEF showed remarkable benefits in reducing medical interventions. The need for central venous access decreased significantly, with only 11.4% of infants in the EEEF group requiring this intervention compared to 37.1% in the conventional feeding group (P = 0.01). This reduction in invasive procedures potentially decreases the risk of complications and infections.
Perhaps most notably, the study demonstrated a significant reduction in hospital stay duration. Infants in the EEEF group were discharged an average of 6.6 days earlier than those receiving conventional feeding (95% CI -12.9, -0.2 days).
Clinical Implications and Future Directions
These findings suggest that early exclusive enteral feeding represents a safe and effective approach for preterm infants in this gestational age group. The reduction in parenteral nutrition requirements, decreased need for central venous access, and shorter hospital stays could lead to significant improvements in neonatal care outcomes while potentially reducing healthcare costs.
The successful implementation of this feeding protocol in the study population provides strong evidence for considering EEEF as a standard approach in neonatal intensive care units for appropriate candidates within this gestational age range.
