The Dilemma Of Feeding During The Treatment Of Patent Ductus Arteriosus With Oral Ibuprofen In Preterm Infants ≤ 30 Weeks Of Gestation- A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the effect of minimal enteral feeding (MEN) versus withholding feeding on time to reach full feeds during treatment of hs-PDA with oral ibuprofen in infants ≤30 weeks. Study Design: We performed a single-center, randomized control trial of 126 premature infants born ≤30 weeks gestation , <7 days of age with hs-PDA comparing continuation of MEN(n= 64) vs no feeding(n=62) during treatment. The primary outcome was time to reach a feed volume of 150ml/kg/day. Secondary outcomes included were episodes of feed intolerance, GI bleed, NEC and other comorbidities. Results: There was no difference in the time to reach full feeds with a median age of 16 days in both groups(p=0.573). Incidence of feed intolerance, NEC and other secondary outcomes was also similar in two groups. Conclusions: Continuing MEN during treatment of hs-PDA with oral ibuprofen does not increase gastrointestinal morbidities in very preterm infants.