Dilemmas Surrounding Interpretation of Gastric Residuals in the NICU Setting

摘要: Providing enteral nutrition to preterm infants is a challenge because of the immaturity gastrointestinal tract. Clinicians often take cautious approach advancing feedings concerns related development feeding intolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis. Gastric residuals provide mechanism for monitoring tolerance since they are easy obtain and quantify. Despite common practice gastric residuals, there lack agreement in determining when an obtained residual becomes clinically significant. Furthermore, numerous factors can affect characteristics residual. A review literature demonstrates significant variability defining Importantly, available evidence support selected parameters. Recommendations discussed.