Parenteral Nutrition Support in Preterm Infants

ABSTRACT

Nutrition support for preterm infants is important to achievement of a postnatal growth rate optimizing normal fetal intrauterine growth rates and for improvement of patient outcome. However, sufficient nutrient delivery is not easy because of underlying illness. Although enteral nutrition (EN) is preferred over parenteral nutrition (PN), immature gastrointestinal features and inability to suck and swallow until 33 weeks' gestation disrupt. In patients with inability to tolerate adequate EN for more than 2 or 3 days, to optimize nutrition support and minimize complications, PN should begin within 24 hours after birth. The purpose of this study is to review the PN in preterm infants for the most appropriate nutritional support to meet each patient's requirement.