Splanchnic Tissue Oxygenation for Predicting Feeding Tolerance in Preterm Infants

Background: Feeding intolerance is very frequent in preterm infants, and the development of an early effective biomarker for its prediction could be useful for carrying out a proper feeding strategy. Our aim was to evaluate if the measurement of splanchnic regional oxygenation (rSO2S) and splanchnic fractional oxygen extraction ratio (FOES) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is correlated with the time needed to achieve full enteral feeding and if it can predict the development of feeding intolerance. Materials and Methods: We measured rSO2S and FOES in preterm infants 25 ± 0 to 31 ± 6 weeks of gestational age at 24–72 hours of life during continuous enteral feeding. Results: Linear regression analysis did not evidence any relationship between rSO2S and FOES and the time for achievement of full enteral feeding. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that birth weight <1000 g (relative risk [RR], 4.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–16.45) and patent ductus arteriosus occurrence (RR, 9.3;...