The Effects of Early Oropharyngeal Administration of Microdosed Colostrum on Feeding Status in Ventilated Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Background: For extremely low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs), mechanical ventilation and total parenteral nutrition are generally required in the early stages and lose the protective effect of early gastrointestinal nutrition of colostrum. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness of early colostrum oropharyngeal administration on the feeding status of ELBWIs on mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: We randomly divided mechanically ventilated ELBWIs into an intervention group and a control group. In the intervention group, we provided oropharyngeal administration of colostrum during mechanical ventilation. The first colostrum oropharyngeal administration ended within 24 hours of birth. In the control group, we gave colostrum only for gastrointestinal nutrition, and other interventions were the same as for the intervention group. We collected the 1st and 6th day of life airway secretions and urine specimens from both groups. We recorded feeding status, including corrected gestational age at onset of enteral nutrition, corrected gestational age of no gastric retention during feeding, corrected gestational age of full enteral nutrition, corrected gestational age of sucking began, and corrected gestational age of per oral feeding. We also recorded growth of body mass, the incidence of feeding intolerance, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Results: On the 6th day of life, concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A, and lactoferrin in airway secretions and urine of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The intervention group showed younger corrected gestational age of no gastric retention during feeding, corrected gestational age of full enteral nutrition, the corrected gestational age of sucking began and per oral feeding than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The day of recovery to birth weight was earlier than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The rate of feeding intolerance and NEC incidence in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Early oropharyngeal administration of colostrum improves immune function of the gastrointestinal tract and the systemic anti-infective capability in ELBWI on mechanical ventilation, promoting the maturity of gastrointestinal function, improving feeding condition, and reducing the risk of feeding intolerance and NEC.