Use of a Gastroschisis Feeding Guideline to Improve Standardization of Care and Patient Outcomes at an Urban Children's Hospital.

Background: This study examined clinical outcomes associated with the use of a gastroschisis-specific (GS) feeding advancement guideline.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all simple gastroschisis babies (N = 65) treated between June 2009June 2015. We compared patients treated on a postintestinal surgery guideline using either a 1-day (1D) or 3-day (3D) feeding advancement from August 2009-August 2013 with infants treated on a GS guideline from September 2013-June 2015.

Results: Patients in the 2 groups were similar in sex, race, gestational age, weight, and comorbidities. Median time to full enteral nutrition (EN) was 11 days for the 1D group, 22 days for the 3D group, and 18 days for the GS group (P < .01). However, lengths of stay and estimated weight gain per day were similar among the groups. A total of 3 infants (10%) in the 1D group developed necrotizing enterocolitis compared with none in the 3D or GS groups. Control chart analysis showed reduced variation in median time to full EN in the GS group when compared with the 1D and 3D groups. Guideline adherence was significantly better with the GS guideline when compared with the 1D or 3D guidelines (94% vs 72% vs 90%; P < .01).

Conclusion: A GS protocol yielded reduced variation in median time to full EN, significant improvement in percent adherence to the guideline, and zero cases of necrotizing enterocolitis. Weight gain and lengths of stay were not adversely affected by slower feeds.