Routine versus no assessment of gastric residual volumes in preterm infants receiving enteral feeding via intermittent feeding tubes: a randomized controlled trial

Figures & data

Figure 1. CONSORT diagram showing participant screening and enrollment.

Figure 2. Distribution of time of achieving full enteral feeding between the group that has assessment of gastric residual volume (C) compared to those whose gastric residual volume were not assessed (E).

Table 1. Demographic and baseline characteristics.

	GRV group (n = 38)	No-GRV group (n = 39)
Maternal age (year), mean ± SD	29 ± 6.4	29.3 ± 5.6
Maternal race
Black, n (%)	18 (47.3)	14 (35.9)
White, n (%)	13 (34.2)	18 (46.2)
Other, n (%)	7 (18.5)	7 (17.9)
Antenatal steroids, n (%)	27 (71)	30 (77)
Maternal pre-eclampsia, n (%)	13 (34)	9 (23)
Caesarean Delivery, n (%)	27 (71%)	32 (82%)
Birth weight (g), mean ± SD	924 ± 196	916 ± 187
<800 g, n (%)	9 (24)	11 (28)
800–1000 g, n (%)	13 (34)	12 (31)
1000–1250 g, n (%)	16 (42)	16 (41)
Z-score at birth, mean ± SD	−0.06 ± 0.81	0.17 ± 0.93
Gestational age (wk), mean ± SD	27 ± 2.1	26.6 ± 2.1
Female, n (%)	26 (70)	19 (50)
SGA, (birth weight <10th %le), n (%)	2 (5.2)	4 (10.2)
1-min APGAR score, median	4	4
5-min APGAR score, median	8	8
Days to start enteral feeds, median	1	1
Percentage of feeds as Mother’s own milk: Median (%) (IQR: Q1–Q3)	100 (35.5–100)	100 (35.3–100)

The p values for all parameters between the two groups were >.05.

Table 2. Secondary outcomes and complications.

	GRV group (n = 38)	No-GRV group (n = 39)
Stage 2 or greater necrotizing enterocolitis, n (%)	1 (2.6)	1 (2.6)
Late-onset sepsis, n (%)	10 (26.3)	14 (35.9)
Moderate to large patent ductus arteriosus, n (%)	11 (28.9)	19 (48.7)
Patent ductus arteriosus treatment, n (%)	3 (7.8)	6 (15.6)
Chronic lung disease, n (%)	10 (26.3)	9 (23.1)
Postnatal steroids, n (%)	11 (28.9)	9 (23.1)
Any intraventricular hemorrhage, n (%)	11 (28.9)	15 (38.4)
Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (Grade 3–4), n (%)	2 (5.2)	0 (0)
Periventricular leukomalacia, n (%)	1(2.6)	0 (0)
Any retinopathy of prematurity, n (%)	8 (21)	8 (20.5)
Stage 3 or greater retinopathy of prematurity, n (%)	1 (2.6)	0 (0)
Growth velocity at 4 weeks (g/kg/d), mean ± SD	10.37 ± 3.36	9.73 ± 4.14
Growth velocity at 36wk PMA (g/kg/d), mean ± SD	13.78 ± 1.87	13.43 ± 3.0
Weight Z-score at 36wk PMA, mean ± SD	−1.26 ± 0.79	−1.18 ± 0.74
Difference between weight Z-scores at birth and 36wk. post-menstrual age, mean ± SD.	−1.2 ± 0.59	−1.3 ± 0.79
Length of NICU stay (days) median (IQR)	81 (45)	83 (52)

The p values for all parameters between the two groups were >.05.