JY Lee, JM Namgoong, DY Kim, SC Kim

Abstract

Objective: Timely passage of meconium represents the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract in newborns. Few studies have evaluated the time to first meconium passage in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs). We investigated the time to first stool passage in ELBWIs and risk factors for delayed passage. Methods: The medical records of all ELBWIs (birth weight <1000 g) hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit of Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Time to first stool passage after birth and associated factors were analysed. Results: This study included 546 ELBWIs with a mean gestational age of 26.9±2.4 weeks and a mean birth weight of 800.0±156.1 g. Their mean age at the time of first stool passage was 2.64±4.2 days, with 90% of the infants passing stool by nine days after birth. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that delayed stool passage was associated with lower gestational age, male gender, severe sepsis, and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Time to first stool passage was longer in ELBWIs than in normal birth weight infants. Lower gestational age, male, severe sepsis, and ICH could delay the time of the first stool passage.