Parental nutrition in sick low-birth-weight neonates

T. P. N. (aminoacids-glucose-fat) or aminoacids and glucose (A-G.) was given to 49 premature low-birth-weight neonates through peripheral veins for 7--42 days. The T. P. N. infusate contained glucose 12--20.5 g/kg/day and a standard dose of 2 g/kg/day for aminoacids and fat. The patients formed 4 groups: Twenty neonates were healthy but unable to tolerate oral feeding. Ten of them (group A) received T. P. N. and ten (Group B) received only A-G. Twenty nine neonates suffered from serious illness: 14 of them (Group C) received T. P. N. and 15 (Group D) A-G. In healthy neonates the weight gain was significantly higher in those who received T. P. N. than in those who took the same amount of calories but with A-G only. The addition of fat in parenteral nutrition is necessary in order to achieve a weight gain similar to that of intrauterine period. Fat is even more necessary in sick low-birth-weight neonates because they were found to be unable to tolerate high doses of glucose. Only part of the energy intake of the sick neonates could be covered with A-G. The present study has shown that parenteral nutrition can safely be given to sick low-birth-weight neonates without serious complications.