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A Comparison of Oral feeding and total parenteral nutrition in infants of very low birthweight


SC Higgs
AF Malan
H DE V Heese

Abstract

A controlled trial of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was conducted in 86 infants weighing less than 1 500 g. There was no significant difference in neonatal mortality and morbidity between those receiving TPN and the controls who were fed 'humanised' milk by continuous nasogastric drip. There was an over-all reduction in neonatal mortality for which modern intensive care techniques and skilled nursing care were largely responsible. A place for TPN exists in the management of the sick, low birthweight infant, where feeding by oral route is contra-indicated and nutritional support is temporarily desired. The adaptation of this important technique to low birthweight infants is discussed.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 2169 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574