Improved Outcome of Intestinal Failure in Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: The aims were to evaluate the outcome and to identify predictors for survival and enteral autonomy in neonatal intestinal failure (IF). METHODS: A retrospective observational study in a Swedish tertiary centre of children born between 1995 and 2016 with neonatal IF, defined as dependency on parenteral nutrition (PN) ≥60 days, starting with PN before the age of 44 gestational weeks. Data were extracted from medical records and predictors for survival and enteral autonomy were identified by the Cox regression model. Time to death and weaning off PN analysis were performed with Kaplan-Meier curves including log rank test. RESULTS: In total, 105 children were included. Median gestational age was 28 weeks (22-42), 50% were born extremely preterm ( 50% and birth 2009-2016 were predictors for survival. Enteral autonomy was achieved in 87%, with positive prediction by small bowel length of >25% of expected for gestational age and remaining ileocaecal valve. CONCLUSION: Preterm neonates with IF, at high risk of IF associated morbidity, showed a high overall survival rate. Small-bowel length and being born 2009-2016 were predictors for survival and remaining ICV and small-bowel length were predictors for enteral autonomy.