Lipid tolerance in the very low birth weight infant on intravenous and enteral feedings

An audit of the provision of parenteral nutrition in two acute hospitals: team versus non-team

Studies have indicated that provision of artificial nutritional support services by a multidisciplinary nutrition support team results in significant health benefits and cost savings. An audit was conducted to compare the provision of parenteral nutrition in two hospitals, one with a nutrition support team and one without, with published standards for nutritional care. In the hospital with the nutrition support team there was greater use of nutritional assessment, the energy content of prescribed regimens and energy intake of patients was closer to estimated requirements and the incidence of some metabolic complications was lower. It has been recommended that a nutrition support team should be formed in the hospital that currently has no such facility.

Lipid metabolism of the micropremie

Intravenous lipid emulsions often provide substance for the very low-birth weight or extremely low-birth weight infant that need total parenteral nutrition. The process used in this type of treatment as well as the effects of such treatment are discussed at length in this article. Some of the main compounds of representative lipid emulsions are listed and evaluated and the benefits and consequences of their use are presented.

Total parenteral nutrition in the pediatric patient

Over the past 50 years, tremendous advances have been made in the management of children who cannot receive enteral nutrition. Challenges for the future include devising techniques to decrease catheter sepsis, particularly in children with a short bowel, who have a disproportionate number of septic episodes, possibly related to bacterial translocation. The delineation of risk factors for cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition and refinement of administration of such nutrition in premature neonates to decrease the incidence of this complication, as well as the morbidity of osteopenia, will extend our ability to help these children.