ISSN 2756-3812
International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 2 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Fluid intake in the first week of life: effect on morbidity and mortality in extremely low birth weight infants (less than 900 grams)
Ram Niwas1, Stephen Baumgart2, Joseph D. DeCristofaro3
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
2Department of Neonatology, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
3Division of Neonatology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Accepted 26 May, 2011
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine whether lower fluid intake in extremely low birth weight preterm infants < 900 grams birth weight is associated with reduced incidence of PDA and BPD without affecting mortality. Retrospective chart review of two cohorts treated in the same NICU over a 5-year period. The high fluid intake cohort was managed with liberal fluid intakes starting at 155 mL/kg/day. The low fluid cohort was managed starting with 125 mL/kg/day. We compared the rates of mortality and the morbidities of PDA and BPD in these cohorts using ANOVA, chi-square, or the Student t test. One hundred and sixty one infants were admitted during two periods. After exclusion 113 infants were studied; 75 infants in high fluid intake group and 38 in low fluid intake group. The two groups were statistically different in their cumulative weekly fluid intake and the peak daily intake. We found no difference in mortality, PDA, BPD (by either of two definitions), ventilator days, or hospital stay. We were not able to demonstrate any association between fluid intake and mortality or morbidity in this retrospective analysis. The concept of fluid balance may be a more appropriate way to think about fluid intake in ELBW infants rather than absolute fluid intake.
Key words: Patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, premature infants, fluid balance.