Fluid restriction negatively affects energy intake and growth in very low birth weight infants with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.
We explored if fluid restriction in very low birth weight infants with a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus affected energy and protein intakes and growth.
Retrospectively, we identified 90 very low birth weight infants that were admitted to Umea University Hospital, Sweden, between 2009 and 2012: 42 with and 48 without haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. Anthropometric, fluid, energy and protein intake data during the first 28 days of life were expressed as z-scores.
In the 42 infants diagnosed with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, fluid intake was restricted after diagnosis, resulting in a decrease in energy and protein intake. No decrease was observed in the other 48 infants in the cohort. Multivariate analysis showed that the z-score of weight change depended on both ductus arteriosus status and energy intake, thus, infants with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus did not grow as expected with the energy provided to them.
Energy and protein intake was diminished in prematurely born infants with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus when fluid were restricted after diagnosis. The initial reduction in intakes may have contributed to the lower postnatal growth observed in these infants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.