Early adequate enteral feeding in neonates after cardiac surgery improves hospital outcomes

Background Adequate enteral nutrition may be difficult to achieve early in neonates after cardiac surgery,but it is essential for growth, wound healing, and immune function. The relationship between early adequate enteral nutrition intake and hospital outcomes following neonatal biventricular cardiopulmonary bypass surgery has not been well studied. Methods A retrospective study on daily enteral feeding amount was conducted in the cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital. Daily feeding amount and hospital outcomes were assessed in 42 neonates. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the time to discharge from ICU and hospital. Results Neonates were divided into goal-achieved group( received a max feeding amount of ≥100 mL/kg) and goal-not achieved group(received a max feeding amount of <100 mL/kg during postoperative days 0-5.Goal-not achieved group was associated with a significantly increased duration of mechanical ventilation(118 hours vs. 71 hours,P = 0.001), time in intensive care(310 hours vs. 213 hours,P = 0.003), and stay in the hospital(18 days vs. 13 days, P=0.016). Conclusion Max daily feeding amount ≥100 mL/kg to neonates during postoperative days 0-7 is associated with better hospital outcomes.