Abstract
Backgorund: Kneemometry allows the acurate evaluation of short term changes in infant growth. Catch-up growth is a critical event during hospitalization in VLBWI. Normal growth responds to a saltation/stasis pattern which has not been studied yet during catch-up growth in VLBWI.
Objective. In a cohort of VLBWI by serial kneemometry, assess if there is a saltation/stasis pattern during catch-up growth and relate it to Neonatal Intensive Care practices.
Methods: A neonates with birth weight <1500 g and gestational age < 31 weeks, were included. The infants were enroled from the 2nd day of life up to discharge. Patients with mayor malformations were excluded. Infants who died before the 1st week of life were not included in the analisis. A hand-held electronic Kneemometer, resembling a Vernier caliper developed to improve the accuracy to measure the knee-heel length in VLBWI, was used. The result of a measurement is the average of five sequential readings. One observer performed the measurements every three days. The error of one sequential reading was 0.17 with a variation coefficient of 0.28% (includes the technical error and an error of the lectures). To analyse the saltation and stasis data we weighted the residuals for the identification of saltation phenomena and not the error in measurements. The numeric data were analized by ANOVA and we performed a multivariate analysis for categorical data.
Results: 15 VLBWI were included. BW (X ± SD) 1062 ± 310 g and 28 ± 2,5 weeks of gestation. The median of age to start enteral feeding was 4 d, total parenteral nutrition duration: 8 d; mechanical ventilation,12 d; oxygen supply: 20 d, and time with energy intake < 60 kcal/kg: 5 d; 1535 measures were performed, growth velocity was 0.39 ± 0.069 mm/day. All patientes showed an increase of knee-heel length. Saltatory pattern was observed in 12 infants during the study; 3 patients showed prolonged stasis periods during low energy intake. The multivariate analysis determined an association between stasis and energy intake <60 kcal/kg (p<0,01).
Conclusions: During catch-up period the growth pattern in very low birth weight infants is mostly saltatory and low energy intake is associated with stasis periods.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Márquez, B., Fustiñana, C. Linear Growth Assessment by Kneemometry in very low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI). Catch-up and Growth Patterns: P071. Pediatr Res 60, 638 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200611000-00042
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200611000-00042