Long-Term Total Parenteral Nutrition in Infants

Abstract

An intravenous amino acid, hypertonic glucose, electrolyte and vitamin solution was used in 14 infants under two months of age in whom oral intake was completely withheld for as long as 60 days. Included were infants with complicated intestinal obstruction, bowel fistulas, intraperitoneal sepsis and chronic diarrhea, as well as three with prenatal rupture of an omphalocele. In the past, a high mortality has been observed in such critically ill infants. In this series, all infants survived. Studies of metabolic balance revealed that the intravenous mixture was capable of maintaining satisfactory nutrition in spite of repeated surgical procedures, sepsis and enteric losses. No serious glycosuria, osmotic diuresis or adverse side effects were detected.