Ultrasound measurements of abdominal muscle thickness are associated with postmenstrual age at full oral feedings in preterm infants: A preliminary study

Autor: Adam J. Kuchnia, Tara Holm, Holly Schifsky, Carrie P. Earthman, Ellen W. Demerath, Emily Nagel, Sara E. Ramel, Marie Hickey, Levi Teigen
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nutr Clin Pract
ISSN: 1941-2452
0884-5336
Popis: BACKGROUND: A premature infant’s discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is dependent on factors such as respiratory stability, adequate growth, and the ability to consume oral feeds. Once infants have achieved respiratory stability, a tool which can better predict age at discharge is desirable. Thus, we conducted a secondary data analysis to assess the association between ultrasound measurements of abdominal muscle thickness and postmenstrual age at full oral feedings. METHODS: Forty-nine (n=49) healthy premature infants (mean gestational age 32 weeks) were recruited from the NICU. Anthropometric measurements and ultrasound measurements of the rectus abdominis were conducted when infants were medically stable. Fat-free mass was obtained using air displacement plethysmography. The relationship between ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness and postmenstrual age at full oral feedings was assessed using linear regression analysis. The relationship between fat-free mass z-scores and postmenstrual age at full oral feedings was also assessed for comparison. RESULTS: When adjusting for gestational age at birth, postmenstrual age at measurement, days of positive pressure respiratory support, weight, and length, ultrasound measurements of abdominal muscle thickness were independently, negatively associated with postmenstrual age at full oral feedings (β estimate: −0.71; p= 0.03). CONCLUSION: Preliminary results suggest infants with greater abdominal muscle thickness may reach full oral feedings at an earlier postmenstrual age (nearly one week per millimeter). Thus, ultrasound measurements of abdominal muscle thickness may be helpful in assessing readiness for discharge in healthy preterm infants. Further research is needed for development and validation of a prediction equation.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: