Clinical effect of early enteral nutrition support on critically ill neonates with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of early enteral nutrition (EN) in critically ill neonates supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 16 critically ill neonates who received ECMO support for respiratory and circulatory failure from July 2021 to December 2022 at our center. The patients were divided into two groups: the early EN group (< 24 h) and the late EN group (> 24 h). The related clinical and nutrition-related indicators between the groups were compared. Results There was a significant difference in the time from ECMO treatment to the start of EN between the early EN group (9 patients, 56.2%) and the late EN group (7 patients, 43.8%) ( P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in ECMO duration, hospitalization time, vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), intestinal oxygen saturation, or routine stool occult blood (OB) test between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The incidence of complications such as intestinal obstruction, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was slightly lower in the early EN group, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The early EN group had a shorter time [3.6 (3.5, 5) vs. 7.5 (5.9, 8.5) d] to reach full gastrointestinal nutrition compared to the late EN group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Providing early nutritional support through enteral feeding to critically ill neonates receiving ECMO treatment is both safe and practical, but close monitoring of clinical and nutritional indicators is essential.