Comparison 1. Routine monitoring versus no monitoring of gastric residuals.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Risk of necrotising enterocolitis stage ≥ 2	4	334	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.46, 2.57]
1.2 Time to establish full enteral feeds	4	334	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.14 [1.93, 4.36]
1.3 Risk of surgical necrotising enterocolitis	3	273	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.66 [0.23, 12.07]
1.4 Time to regain birth weight (days)	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.70 [0.01, 3.39]
1.5 Risk of extrauterine growth restriction at discharge	1	80	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.75, 1.05]
1.6 Number of infants with feed interruption episodes ≥ 12 hours	3	191	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.53, 3.20]
1.7 Number of total parenteral nutrition days	4	334	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.57 [1.20, 3.95]
1.8 Risk of parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease	3	284	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.41, 1.51]
1.9 Duration of central venous lines usage (days)	2	204	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.34 [‐1.76, 8.44]
1.10 Risk of invasive infection	4	334	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.50 [1.02, 2.19]
1.11 All‐cause mortality before discharge	3	273	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.14 [0.77, 5.97]
1.12 Duration of hospital stay (days)	3	273	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.26 [‐0.79, 9.32]
1.13 Risk of spontaneous intestinal perforation	2	193	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.80 [0.30, 26.26]