DEXTROSE GEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEONATAL HYPOGLYCEMIA: A RAPID REVIEW

Abstract

Neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) is a common issue for newborns that can lead to brain damage or death if not promptly treated. Treatment for NH may involve separating the newborn from their family for admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for intravenous (IV) dextrose therapy. Oral dextrose gel is an alternate treatment to IV dextrose therapy that may help to prevent NICU admissions, however, the evidence from existing systematic reviews to support this therapy is mixed. Using a rapid review, literature published since 2021 was examined to assess the efficacy of dextrose gel for treating NH. Data from nine eligible studies were synthesized narratively, with six studies (three of high-quality evidence, one moderate-quality, two low-quality) demonstrating a significant decrease in NICU admissions and/or IV dextrose use with dextrose gel treatment, one study showed no significant differences (low-quality evidence), and two were deemed to be inconclusive (both low-quality evidence).