We hypothesized that giving the probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) DSM 17938 to preterm, formula-fed infants would prevent an early traumatic intestinal inflammatory insult modulating intestinal cytokine profile and reducing the onset of feeding intolerance. Newborn were randomly allocated during the first 48 h of life to receive either daily probiotic (10⁸ colony forming units...

INTRODUCTION In patients that require nutrition support, enteral nutrition (EN) results in reduced infectious complications, and is more cost effective compared to parenteral nutrition (PN) (1). The knowledge of the benefits of EN has led to increasing acceptance and use of enteral feeding, especially in critically ill patients. However, there remains a substantial reluctance to utilize enteral...

BACKGROUND Dysphagia and feeding intolerance are common in neurologically handicapped children. The aim is to determine the etiologies of feeding intolerance in neurologically handicapped children who are intolerant of tube feedings. METHODS Eighteen neurologically handicapped children, followed in the Tube Feeding Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin who were intolerant of gastrost...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of metoclopramide in the treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm neonates less than 36 weeks of gestational age. METHODS A randomized, controlled, masked cross-over study. A block of 4 randomizations was used. The "drug group" received intravenous metoclopramide before feeding and placebo group received placebo at the same time. The time to fu...

BACKGROUND Intolerance to enteral nutrition is common in critically ill adults, and may result in significant morbidity including ileus, abdominal distension, vomiting and potential aspiration events. Prokinetic agents are prescribed to improve gastric emptying. However, the efficacy and safety of these agents in critically ill patients is not well-defined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic ...

Optimal feeding of low birth weight (LBW) infants improves their immediate survival and subsequent growth and development. Being a heterogeneous group comprising term and preterm neonates, their feeding abilities, fluid and nutritional requirements are quite different from normal birth weight infants. A practical approach to feeding a LBW infant including choice of initial feeding method, progr...

Background: Early nutritional support in critical illness is important. There exists a debate about whether and when to initiate enteral nutrition as opposed to feeding parenterally. In addition to other indicators, nonspecific indicators such as bowel sound are used in the decision, but there is little evidence to show the value of bowel sound. Methods: Feeding intolerance was assessed and cor...