Abstract

AIM: Feeding intolerance is one of the most important clinical problems resulting from GIS immaturity in preterm infants. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between fırst time stool and feeding intolerance, and to evaluate if first time stool may be a clinical indicator of feeding intolerance. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included 106 preterm babies (less than 1500g) admitted to our clinic between September 1st, 2006 and August 31st 2007. The exclusion criteria were major congenital anomaly, multiple pregnancy and neonatal death. Those who had at least one of the following criteria were accepted as feeding intolerance: Increase in abdomen circumference of 2cm and more, or gastric residual volume more than 3cc/kg and vomitting, or gastric residue containg bile, or guaiac positive stool. First time stool (hour) and other parameters including birth weight (g), gender, delivery type, hospitalization duration (day), time of starting total enteral nutrition (day) and time of achieving normal birth weight (day) were recorded. Statistical analysis were performed to evaluate the relation between feeding intolerance and these parameters. FINDINGS: Mean gestational age was 29.8 ± 1.4 weeks and mean birth weight was 1357 ± 132g. Fifty two (%49.1) babies were boy and the remaining (%50.9) was girl. Of 106 babies, 33(%31.1) had feeding intolerance. These babies had significanly lovver birth weight, more common lıistory of ceserean section, starting enteral nutrition later and longer hospitalization. In contrast, other parameters including first time stool did not show any statistical relation with feeding intolerance. First time stool was 40.4 ± 50.4 hours in babies with feeding intolerance, whereas it was 31.8 ± 36.1 hours in those without. CONCLUSION: We think that the delay in first time stool is not an indicator of feeding intolerance in very low birth vveight preterm babies. Besides feeding intolerance is related to diverse clinical parameters.