Rates and Determinants of Home Nasogastric Tube Feeding in Infants Born Very Preterm.

OBJECTIVE: To examine rates and determinants of home nasogastric (NG)-tube feeding at hospital discharge in a cohort of very preterm infants within the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN). STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study of infants born <33 weeks of gestation and admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) participating in the CNN between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018. We excluded infants who had major congenital anomalies, required gastrostomy-tube, or were discharged to non-CNN facilities. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent determinants of home NG-tube feeding at hospital discharge. RESULTS: Among the 13 232 infants born very preterm during the study period, 333 (2.5%) were discharged home to receive NG-tube feeding. Rates of home NG-tube feeding varied across Canadian NICUs, from 0% to 12%. Determinants of home NG-tube feeding were gestational age (aOR 0.94 per each gestational week increase, 95% CI 0.88-0.99); duration of mechanical ventilation (aOR 1.02 per each day increase, 95% CI 1.01-1.02); high illness severity at birth (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.74); small for gestational age (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.52-2.78); male sex (aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.49-0.77); severe brain injury (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.10-2.32); and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (aOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.67-2.94). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of home NG-tube feeding varied widely between Canadian NICUs. Higher gestational age and male sex reduced the odds of discharge home to receive NG-tube feeding; and in contrast small for gestational age, severe brain injury, prolonged duration on mechanical ventilation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia increased the odds.

Parent experiences of a remote patient monitoring program enabling early discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit with nasogastric tube feeding.

BACKGROUND: This exploratory study examined parents' experiences with "Growing at Home" (G@H), a remote patient monitoring program for stable infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with continued need for nasogastric tube feeding. METHODS: We used classical content analysis to identify and refine emergent themes from 13 semi-structured key informant interviews. RESULTS: The primary emergent theme was the desire to return to normalcy, which was expressed as a primary motivator for participating in G@H. Parents reported G@H assisted them in transitioning from the NICU's highly medicalized setting to establishing a new normal with incorporation of their infant into their lives and families. Parental preparation is important, as some parents experienced challenges that indicate the program may not be suitable for all families. CONCLUSIONS: Parental experiences offer insight into benefits and challenges of early discharge from the NICU and highlight opportunities to support families beginning in the NICU and as they transition home.