[Parenteral nutrition in premature infants: practical aspects to optimize postnatal growth and development]. / L'alimentation parentérale du prématuré : comment la prescrire pour optimiser la croissance et le développement.

Nutrition and growth are still a major challenge in neonatal intensive care. Many studies have demonstrated that premature infants frequently develop severe cumulative nutritional deficit during the first weeks of life. This malnutrition is the primary etiology of postnatal growth restriction, which is still universally described in very premature infants. Furthermore, both postnatal nutritional deficit and postnatal growth restriction have been associated with adverse long-term outcome in adulthood. Due to their immaturity, premature infants are frequently not fed by the enteral route. Therefore, parenteral nutrition remains an essential therapy in neonatology. Most recent recommendations suggest starting parenteral nutrition as soon as possible after birth with a minimum of 40 kcal/kg/day with around 2-3g/kg/day of amino acids and 1g/kg/day of lipids. Afterwards, intake should increase rapidly during the first week of life, up to 90-120 kcal/kg/day with around 3.5 g/kg/day amino acids and 3g/kg/day of lipids. There is great heterogeneity in parenteral nutrition practices among neonatal units, with frequent discrepancies. This article discusses the principal theoretical aspects of parenteral nutrition in premature infants, the guidelines, and the opportunity to optimize nutritional support routinely, especially in very premature infants.

[Recent advances in nutritional support and postnatal growth in premature infants]. / Nouvelles perspectives pour l'alimentation des prématurés et leur croissance postnatale.

Nutrition has always been described as challenging in premature infants, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants. Therefore, postnatal malnutrition is frequently observed in these infants and most develop a severe postnatal growth restriction with a very high incidence of hypotrophy at term corrected age. Otherwise, both insufficient nutritional intakes and postnatal growth restriction during the perinatal period have been associated with adverse developmental outcomes. In this article, an optimized nutritional policy characterized by a standardization of nutritional support is discussed. This policy implies the use of one standardized parenteral nutrition solution and a rapidly enriched feeding regimen. Recent studies in VLBW infants have demonstrated that this approach is associated with significant improvement of nutritional support, postnatal growth and biological homeostasis. Only 6% of appropriate for gestational age infants at birth were described small for gestational age at discharge. This policy has recently been reproduced by the industry that developed the first manufactured triple-chamber parenteral nutrition bags specifically designed for premature infants. It represents a great opportunity for premature infants to improve their development and long-term outcomes.

[Neonatal ABO incompatibility underlies a potentially severe hemolytic disease of the newborn and requires adequate care]. / L'allo-immunisation fœto-maternelle ABO peut être sévère.

ABO allo-immunization is the most frequent hemolytic disease of the newborn and ABO incompatibility is present in 15-25 % of pregnancies. True ABO alloimmunization occurs in approximately one out of 150 births. Intensity is generally lower than in RhD allo-immunization. We report on three cases showing that ABO allo-immunization can lead to severe hemolytic disease of the newborn with potentially threatening hyperbilirubinemia and complications. Early diagnosis and adequate care are necessary to prevent complications in ABO incompatibility. A direct antiglobulin test is the cornerstone of diagnosis and should be performed at birth on cord blood sampling in all group infants born to O mothers, especially if of African origin. Risk factor analysis and attentive clinical monitoring during the first days of life are essential. Vigilance is even more important for infants discharged before the age of 72 h. Every newborn should be assessed for the risk of developing severe hyperbilirubinemia and should be examined by a qualified healthcare professional in the first days of life. Treatment depends on the total serum bilirubin level, which may increase very rapidly in the first 48 h of life in cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn. Phototherapy and, in severe cases, exchange transfusion are used to prevent hyperbilirubinemia encephalopathy. Intravenous immunoglobulins are used to reduce exchange transfusion. Treatments of severe hemolytic disease of the newborn should be provided and performed by trained personnel in neonatal intensive care units.

[Care and follow-up of premature infants after discharge]. / La prise en charge et le suivi des nouveau-nés prématurés après leur retour à domicile.

Prematurity remains a public health problem with a considerable psychosocial impact. Premature infants are discharged home more fragile and more precociously than infants born at term. Post-discharge nutrition and growth of the preterm infants should be carefully followed because of specific needs of these infants. Infections and cardiorespiratory abnormalities are more frequent in ex-premature infants. Some cerebral lesions may be shown by brain imaging suggesting future sequelae. However, estimation of their real consequences remains imperfect and long term prognosis contains many uncertainties. Cerebral palsy seems to be less severe nowadays, but all current gravity is due to disabilities which express later: hearing disorders, visual impairments, alterations of eye-hand coordination skills, attention deficit disorders, psychological troubles and school difficulties. Multidisciplinary consultations are designed for these children because early screening and adapted care can improve long term prognosis. All this underlines the importance of prolonged follow-up program after discharge for premature infants and others who presented worse suffer from hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy.