• Brigit M Carter and Christina Howard.
• Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
• Adv Neonatal Care. 2015 Jun 1; 15 (3): 176-81.

BackgroundWhile various feeding strategies designed to optimize growth have been investigated and used in the clinical setting, the problem of not being able to recognize the warning signs of feeding intolerance early enough to prevent serious gastrointestinal complication commonly associated with very low birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infant remains. Currently, early stages of feeding intolerance are most often identified though nurse assessments. Additional methods to predict feeding intolerance in this population are needed. Currently, intra-abdominal pressure monitoring has been an effective method to predict intolerance to enteral nutrition in the adult and pediatric populations.PurposeThere is supportive evidence for the use of noninvasive methods, such as nasogastric tubes, to effectively monitor IAP. While this may not be the gold standard method of using Foley catheters for measurement, it could provide predictive levels that are indicative of progression toward bowel inflammation.FindingsThis review shows the potential for using noninvasive nasogastric tubes for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure and may provide direction for evaluating intra-abdominal pressures in VLBW preterm infants as a reliable method for early identification of feeding intolerance.Implications For PracticeThe use of nasogastric tubes to monitor intra-abdominal pressure may provide an effective noninvasive tool to identify VLBW preterm infants progressing toward feeding intolerance and would add to assessment data.Implications For ResearchDevelopment and testing of a reliable nasogastric tube monitoring device in the VLBW preterm infant population and identify predictive levels that indicate progression toward feeding intolerance is needed. Once IAP predictive levels are identified, provider interventions could be developed.

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