Influence of gastric residual assessment in preterm neonates on time to achieve enteral feeding (the GRASS trial)-Multi-centre, assessor-blinded randomised clinical trial.

• In very low birth weight infants who are fed using modern feeding practice of faster feed advancement, to minimize use of central access and parenteral nutrition, exclusion of routine checks of gastric residuals did not increase the proportion of infants reaching full enteral feeds by day 5. No harm was seen when residual checks were not performed. • In the absence of a clinical benefit to the routine performance of gastric residuals in very low birth weight infants, it may be appropriate to discontinue their use and instead check residuals when clinical concern of pathology arises.