Continuous intragastric infusion of elemental diet: experiences with 10 infants having small-intestinal diseases

Five infants with gastrointestinal disease requiring neonatal surgery and two infants with nonsurgical disorders were nourished successfully using a constant intragastric infusion of an elemental diet. Two additional patients who developed persistent distension and gastric retention on IED had mechanical obstruction requiring surgery and another died of NEC during treatment. Use of IED avoided the risks of TPN and was followed by successful introduction of standard feeding techniques. IED provides a valuable alternative to TPN in selected infants and newborns. Caution with any enteral feeding method is required in infants at risk for NEC.