Fewer glucose checks and decreased supplementation using dextrose gel for asymptomatic neonatal hypoglycemia.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of a neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) clinical pathway implementing buccal dextrose gel in late preterm and term infants.

STUDY DESIGN: Quality improvement study at a children's hospital associated birth center. Number of blood glucose checks, use of supplemental milk, and need for IV glucose were followed for 26-months after implementation of dextrose gel and compared to previous 16-month period.

RESULTS: After QI implementation, 2703 infants were screened for hypoglycemia. Of these, 874 (32%) received at least one dose of dextrose gel. Special cause shifts with reductions in mean number of blood glucose checks per infant (pre 6.6 vs. post 5.6), use of supplemental milk (pre 42% vs. post 30%), and need for IV glucose (pre 4.8% vs. post 3.5%) were found.

CONCLUSION: Incorporating dextrose gel into a clinical pathway for NH was associated with a sustained reduction in number of interventions, use of supplemental milk and need for IV glucose.