Comparison of the outcome measures in the groups
| Characteristic | Group with routine gastric residual control (n=169) | Group without routine gastric residual control (n=122) | P value |
| Days to full enteral intake (140–150 mL/kg/day) | 10.08±8.03 | 8.10±7.70 | 0.04 |
| Days of parenteral nutrition | 3.56±6.04 | 3.59±5.24 | 0.91 |
| Sepsis (late sepsis), n (%) | 26 (15.5) | 27 (22.1) | 0.19 |
| NEC ≥ grade 2, n (%) | 3 (1.8) | 4 (3.3) | 0.65 |
| Patent ductus arteriosus | 10 (5.9) | 3 (2.5) | 0.15 |
| IVH (all grades) | 22 (13.0) | 21 (17.2) | 0.32 |
| Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (days)* | 1.47±0.50 | 1.03±0.16 | 0.001 |
| Weight at discharge (g) | 2103.18±377.90 | 2130.26±419.78 | 0.61 |
| Duration of nCPAP (days)* | 3.74±3.42 | 6.74±7.98 | 0.001 |
| Duration of hospitalization (days)* | 30.39±23.13 | 25.78±22.39 | 0.09 |
*Statistically significant.
IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; nCPAP, nasal continuous positive airway pressure; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis.