Discharging Medically Complex Infants with Supplemental Nasogastric Tube Feeds: Impact on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay and Prevention of Gastrostomy Tubes

Author(s):  
Deesha D. Mago-Shah ◽  
William F. Malcolm ◽  
Rachel G. Greenberg ◽  
Ricki F. Goldstein

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of discharge with supplemental nasogastric tube (NGT) feeds in medically complex infants. Study Design Cohort study of 400 infants enrolled in the Transitional Medical Home (TMH) program at Duke University Level IV neonatal intensive care unit from January 2013 to 2017. Results Among 400 infants enrolled in the TMH, 57 infants were discharged with an NGT. A total of 45 infants with a variety of diagnoses and comorbidities were included in final analysis. Among 45 infants, 5 obtained a gastrostomy tube (GT) postdischarge. Median (25–75th percentile) length of use of NGT in 40 infants was 12 days (4–37). Excluding four outliers who used NGT for ≥140 days, the median length of use was 8 days (3–24). This extrapolates to a median of 288 hospital days saved for the remaining 36 infants. There were only three emergency room visits related to parental concern for incorrect NGT placement. There was no statistically significant difference in percent oral feeding predischarge or growth in first month postdischarge between infants who orally fed versus those who obtained GTs. Conclusion Discharge with supplemental NGT feeds is safe and feasible utilizing a standardized protocol and close postdischarge follow-up. This practice can decrease length of stay and prevent need for GT. Key Points

2018 ◽  
Vol 198 ◽  
pp. 162-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Swanson ◽  
William E. King ◽  
Robert A. Sinkin ◽  
Douglas E. Lake ◽  
Waldemar A. Carlo ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1507-1515
Author(s):  
Lauren L. Madhoun ◽  
Robert Dempster

Purpose Feeding challenges are common for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While sufficient oral feeding is typically a goal during NICU admission, this can be a long and complicated process for both the infant and the family. Many of the stressors related to feeding persist long after hospital discharge, which results in the parents taking the primary role of navigating the infant's course to ensure continued feeding success. This is in addition to dealing with the psychological impact of having a child requiring increased medical attention and the need to continue to fulfill the demands at home. In this clinical focus article, we examine 3 main areas that impact psychosocial stress among parents with infants in the NICU and following discharge: parenting, feeding, and supports. Implications for speech-language pathologists working with these infants and their families are discussed. A case example is also included to describe the treatment course of an infant and her parents in the NICU and after graduation to demonstrate these points further. Conclusion Speech-language pathologists working with infants in the NICU and following hospital discharge must realize the family context and psychosocial considerations that impact feeding progression. Understanding these factors may improve parental engagement to more effectively tailor treatment approaches to meet the needs of the child and family.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S713-S713
Author(s):  
Carlo Fopiano Palacios ◽  
Eric Lemmon ◽  
James Campbell

Abstract Background Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often develop fevers during their inpatient stay. Many neonates are empirically started on antibiotics due to their fragile clinical status. We sought to evaluate whether the respiratory viral panel (RVP) PCR test is associated with use of antibiotics in patients who develop a fever in the NICU. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients admitted to the Level 4 NICU of the University of Maryland Medical Center from November 2015 to June 2018. We included all neonates who developed a fever 48 hours into their admission. We collected demographic information and data on length of stay, fever work-up and diagnostics (including labs, cultures, RVP), and antibiotic use. Descriptive statistics, Fisher exact test, linear regression, and Welch’s ANOVA were performed. Results Among 347 fever episodes, the mean age of neonates was 72.8 ± 21.6 days, and 45.2% were female. Out of 30 total RVP samples analyzed, 2 were positive (6.7%). The most common causes of fever were post-procedural (5.7%), pneumonia (4.8%), urinary tract infection (3.5%), meningitis (2.6%), bacteremia (2.3%), or due to a viral infection (2.0%). Antibiotics were started in 208 patients (60%), while 61 neonates (17.6%) were already on antibiotics. The mean length of antibiotics was 7.5 ± 0.5 days. Neonates were more likely to get started on antibiotics if they had a negative RVP compared to those without a negative RVP (89% vs. 11%, p-value < 0.0001). Patients with a positive RVP had a decreased length of stay compared to those without a positive RVP (30.3 ± 8.7 vs. 96.8 ± 71.3, p-value 0.01). On multivariate linear regression, a positive RVP was not associated with length of stay. Conclusion Neonates with a negative respiratory viral PCR test were more likely to be started on antibiotics for fevers. Respiratory viral PCR testing can be used as a tool to promote antibiotic stewardship in the NICU. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 835-838
Author(s):  
Fred Schwab ◽  
Brenda Tolbert ◽  
Stephen Bagnato ◽  
M. Jeffrey Maisels

The effect of sibling visiting in a neonatal intensive care unit was studied. Sixteen siblings of 13 infants were randomly assigned to a visiting or nonvisiting group. Behavioral patterns were measured by questionnaires administered to the parents and by direct observation and interviews with the children. There were no significant changes in the behavior of the children following the birth of their sibling, and there was no significant difference between the behavior scores of the two groups 1 week after the experimental (or control) intervention. The visiting children did not show signs of fear or anxiety during the visit. These data suggest that sibling visiting to a neonatal intensive care unit is not likely to be harmful and might be beneficial to the siblings and their families.


2018 ◽  
Vol 218 (6) ◽  
pp. 612.e1-612.e6 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wright ◽  
Daniel L. Rolnik ◽  
Argyro Syngelaki ◽  
Catalina de Paco Matallana ◽  
Mirian Machuca ◽  
...  

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