Nasal continuous positive airway pressure affects pre- and postprandial intestinal blood flow velocity in preterm infants

Objective: To measure the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on intestinal blood flow velocity responses to enteral feedings and left ventricular output (LVO). Study Design: Eighteen infants completed the study (birth weight 1793 ± 350g, gestational age 32.1 ± 1.1 weeks). On the day infants were weaned from CPAP to room air, pre- and postprandial (0, 30, 60 and 90min after feeding) mean velocity (MV), peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured for one feeding given when receiving CPAP ('on CPAP'), and for one feeding given after CPAP had been discontinued ('off CPAP'). Preprandial LVO was measured before and after CPAP discontinuation. Result: MV and PSV were significantly lower when infants were on CPAP (P < 0.05). Maximum postprandial MV, PSV and EDV occurred at 30min when on CPAP and at 60min when off CPAP. Preprandial LVO was similar when infants were on and off CPAP. Conclusion: CPAP administration affects pre- and postprandial intestinal blood flow velocity, which may impact tolerance to enteral feedings.