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

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Number of infants with NEC stage 2 or 3	2	141	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.07 [0.50, 18.77]
2 Time to reach full enteral feeds	2	141	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.92 [2.06, 5.77]
3 Number of infants with surgical NEC	1	80	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.25 [0.36, 4.32]
4 Time to regain birth weight (days)	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.70 [0.01, 3.39]
5 Number of infants with extrauterine growth restriction at discharge	1	80	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.75, 1.05]
6 Number of infants with episodes of interruption of feeds (lasting ≥ 12 hours)	2	141	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.07 [1.39, 3.07]
7 Number of TPN days	2	141	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.29 [1.66, 4.92]
8 Number of infants with parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease	1	61	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.28, 3.76]
9 Number of days of CVL usage	1	61	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	5.70 [‐1.99, 13.39]
10 Number of infants with invasive infection	2	141	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.46 [0.85, 2.52]
11 All‐cause mortality before discharge	1	80	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.25 [0.36, 4.32]
12 Duration of hospital stay (days)	1	80	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.20 [‐4.45, 10.85]