Nutritional and behavioural aspects of nasogastric tube feeding in infants receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Eight infants initiated chronic peritoneal dialysis and received nasogastric tube feedings during their first month of life. In each case, the nasogastric tube feedings were initiated because of poor oral intake and the desire to avert the development of an aversive feeding interaction between parent and child. The nutritional regimen was designed to allow normal or catch up weight gain appropriate for height age. The caloric and protein intake of the infants averaged 98.5 +/- 10.2 kcal/kg/day and 2.7 gm/kg/day, respectively, during the first year of life. Between 25% and 100% of the formula intake was provided by the nasogastric route. Group standard deviation score for height was -1.74 +/- 0.7 at one year. Five of the infants received behavioral therapy because of persistent food refusal. Therapy consisted of reinforcing prompted food acceptance and ignoring food refusal. This approach was conducted by a multidisciplinary team and successfully converted the non-oral feeder to a total oral feeding regimen in each case.