Download PDF
Am J Perinatol 2017; 34(02): 169-173
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584927
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Glycerin Suppositories Use in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Shalinkumar Patel
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Narendra Dereddy
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Ajay J. Talati
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Kan Gaston
3   Department of Pharmacy, Regional One Health, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

31 January 2016

31 May 2016

Publication Date:
01 July 2016 (online)

Also available at
   Buy Article Permissions and Reprints
Zoom Image

Abstract

Objective To study the characteristics of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receiving glycerin suppositories (GS) and evaluate the association of GS use with outcomes.

Study Design This is a retrospective study of VLBW infants admitted to a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Infants with birth weight between 500 and 1,499 g were evaluated. We evaluated the frequency of GS use and compared the characteristics and outcomes of the GS group with the no-GS group. Multivariate analyses controlling for gestational age and small for gestational age status were performed to study the effect of GS on outcomes.

Results A total of 1,073 infants were included in the study. Out of those, 527 (49.1%) infants received GS. Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was not significantly different between the two groups, while days to reach full enteral feeds and length of hospital stay were significantly longer in the GS group.

Conclusion Frequent use of GS warrants further prospective studies to evaluate its safety and efficacy in view of our study showing association with longer time to reach full enteral feeds. We speculate that GS use could be a marker for gastrointestinal dysmotility and hence the association with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Keywords

glycerin suppositories - feeding intolerance - preterm infants - necrotizing enterocolitis