[Parenteral nutrition in management of sick low birth weight infant (under 2,000 g.) (author's transl)]

A serie accounting for 32 newborn sick infants with a mean weight of 1,324 g. and gestational age of 30.6 weeks in whom parenteral nutrition was applied alone or as supplementation of oral alimentation is presented. The mean duration was of ten days, and mean weight increment of 14.6 g. Infectious complication were the most frequent (25%). Mortality was 46% due in part to the important associated pathology. The general lines for management of these infant are given. Finally it is pointed out that, intravenous nutrition is only justified by the failure to use oral feeding.