Sterile water gastric drip in extremely low birthweight premature infants: a randomized trial.

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that sterile water gavage drip (SWGD) used in the fluid management of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants will decrease the incidence of hypernatremia. Secondary hypotheses included decreased hyperkalemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Sixty ELBW infants were randomized before 36 hours of age to receive SWGD (up to 30 mL/kg/d) and intravenous fluid or conventional intravenous fluid management. SWGD was well tolerated in 89% of the infants. No difference was seen in the incidence of hypernatremia, hyperkalemia, hyperglycemia, or hyperbilirubinemia. A significant reduction in the incidence of treated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was noted in the study group (36% versus 69%; relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.30 to 0.90; p = 0.02). SWGD may provide an alternative means of safely administering free water to the ELBW infant. The observed reduction in treated PDA requires further investigation.