Feeding outcomes in babies with abnormal Antenatal Dopplers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the current management for infants diagnosed with AREDFV, using the national neonatal database (BADGER)
IRAS ID
195953
Contact name
Jon Dorling
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance, Financial & Business Services University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Abnormal placental blood flow, known as absent or reversed end diastolic flow velocity (AREDFV) is one of the underlying factors for premature birth and low birth weight. This medical condition also reduces blood flow to the gut. If severe, this can cause damage to the bowel that can reduce the speed of bowel transit and infection with bacteria; a condition known as Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is one of the most common gastrointestinal emergencies occurring in early neonatal life. Low birth weight preterm babies, particularly, are at greater risk of developing NEC.
It is thought that delayed oral feeding for sick babies may decrease the risk of NEC. On the other hand, recent systematic reviews concluded that early oral feeding for small for gestational age babies had no significant effect on the incidence of NEC. A randomised controlled trial (Abnormal Doppler Enteral Prescription Trial (ADEPT)) showed that early oral feeding does not increase the occurrence of NEC. In addition, early feeding helps to achieve earlier full oral feeding.
This research project aims to explore the recent feeding practices for preterm infants who have been diagnosed with abnormal antenatal umbilical Doppler flow. We will use an anonymised dataset downloaded from the national neonatal database which is used by all neonatal units in the UK (Badger.net, Clevermed Ltd). The hypothesis is that feeding practices will have changed for this group of babies since the inception of database use in 2006/2007 and that these changes are identifiable in time to the presentation and and publication of the ADEPT trial. We will also examine whether there has been a change in NEC rates during this time period.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
16/NS/0040
Date of REC Opinion
30 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion