Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen

IntroductionEnteral feeding during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), is beneficial, but there is insufficient evidence to guide timing and feed advancement strategies. The aim of this study was to describe feed tolerance and outcomes after TH with a st...

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Main Authors: Ilhaam Samaai, Michael S. Pepper, Shakti Pillay, Alan R. Horn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1611619/full
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author Ilhaam Samaai
Michael S. Pepper
Michael S. Pepper
Shakti Pillay
Alan R. Horn
author_facet Ilhaam Samaai
Michael S. Pepper
Michael S. Pepper
Shakti Pillay
Alan R. Horn
author_sort Ilhaam Samaai
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEnteral feeding during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), is beneficial, but there is insufficient evidence to guide timing and feed advancement strategies. The aim of this study was to describe feed tolerance and outcomes after TH with a standardized progressive early enteral feeding regimen.MethodsData were retrospectively reviewed from neonates with HIE who were treated with TH for HIE in the Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), between 1 July 2019 and 31 October 2022. Enteral feeds were commenced at age 12–24 h and incremented daily if tolerated, at 12 ml/kg/day for the first 3 days and 24 ml/kg thereafter. Nutritional, morbidity and mortality outcomes were compared between neonates with and without early feed intolerance (EFI) by the fourth day of life.ResultsThirty three percent (16/48) developed EFI. However, by day six the median (IQR) enteral volumes were, 120 (110–120) and 90 (90–99), in neonates without and with feed intolerance respectively. There were no differences in resuscitation characteristics. Neonates with EFI, had higher HIE grades, more amplitude integrated electro-encephalograph (aEEG) suppression at 48 h (p = 0.002), later attainment of full nutritive sucking or cup feeds (p < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.038). There were no differences in other morbidities. Mortality was 6% and necrotising enterocolitis did not occur in either group.ConclusionsEarly feeding was generally well tolerated. Feed intolerance was more frequent in neonates with severe HIE, but most neonates achieved independence from IV fluids by day six.
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spelling doaj-art-fe8d8875aee04676b836317aa89f8bb62025-08-20T03:56:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-07-011310.3389/fped.2025.16116191611619Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimenIlhaam Samaai0Michael S. Pepper1Michael S. Pepper2Shakti Pillay3Alan R. Horn4Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Neonatal Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Medical Immunology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaExtramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Neonatal Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Division of Neonatal Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaIntroductionEnteral feeding during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), is beneficial, but there is insufficient evidence to guide timing and feed advancement strategies. The aim of this study was to describe feed tolerance and outcomes after TH with a standardized progressive early enteral feeding regimen.MethodsData were retrospectively reviewed from neonates with HIE who were treated with TH for HIE in the Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), between 1 July 2019 and 31 October 2022. Enteral feeds were commenced at age 12–24 h and incremented daily if tolerated, at 12 ml/kg/day for the first 3 days and 24 ml/kg thereafter. Nutritional, morbidity and mortality outcomes were compared between neonates with and without early feed intolerance (EFI) by the fourth day of life.ResultsThirty three percent (16/48) developed EFI. However, by day six the median (IQR) enteral volumes were, 120 (110–120) and 90 (90–99), in neonates without and with feed intolerance respectively. There were no differences in resuscitation characteristics. Neonates with EFI, had higher HIE grades, more amplitude integrated electro-encephalograph (aEEG) suppression at 48 h (p = 0.002), later attainment of full nutritive sucking or cup feeds (p < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.038). There were no differences in other morbidities. Mortality was 6% and necrotising enterocolitis did not occur in either group.ConclusionsEarly feeding was generally well tolerated. Feed intolerance was more frequent in neonates with severe HIE, but most neonates achieved independence from IV fluids by day six.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1611619/fullneonatehypoxia ischaemia -brainhypothermia -inducedAfrica south of the Saharaneonatal encephalopathynutrition-enteral
spellingShingle Ilhaam Samaai
Michael S. Pepper
Michael S. Pepper
Shakti Pillay
Alan R. Horn
Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
Frontiers in Pediatrics
neonate
hypoxia ischaemia -brain
hypothermia -induced
Africa south of the Sahara
neonatal encephalopathy
nutrition-enteral
title Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
title_full Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
title_fullStr Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
title_full_unstemmed Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
title_short Minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a South African cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
title_sort minimal impact of feed intolerance during therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in a south african cohort with a standardised feeding regimen
topic neonate
hypoxia ischaemia -brain
hypothermia -induced
Africa south of the Sahara
neonatal encephalopathy
nutrition-enteral
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1611619/full
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