EFFECTS OF EARLY MINIMAL ENTERAL NUTRITION IN PRETERM VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS WITH ABSENT OR REVERSAL OF END DIASTOLIC FLOW IN UMBILICAL ARTERIES (AREDF) BEFORE BIRTH

Preterm very low birth infants are not fed early if there is shock or severe sepsis or respiratory distress. Traditionally if infants are sick enteral feedings are introduced slowly (at 4-5 days of age). Infants born with history of AREDF are given parenteral nutrition till enteral intake is adequate (7-10 days). We studied the effect of early MEN (at 24 hours of age) in VLBW (<32 weeks gestation) infants with AREDF (MEN group- n=12;controls-n=14). The results of this study reveals that the outcome of infants fed with early MEN is better with shorter length of stay, faster regaining of birth weight, shorter duration of parenteral nutrition and better tolerance of feedings. These data suggest that early MEN can be safely implemented in preterm VLBW infants with history of AREDF with no adverse outcomes