Total parenteral nutrition for premature infants1,2,3 21 3.pdfVIP

REVIEW Abstract In the late 1970s the age of viability was approximately 28 weeks’ gestation. Most infants less than 1,000 grams and some less than 1,500 grams were considered nonviable, therefore, resuscitation attempts were less aggressive. Advancing technology has led to improvements in ventilators, intravenous access materials, and surfactant therapy; have all had an impact on lowering the age of viability. It is not unusual today to resuscitate infants as young as 22 weeks’ gestation. One of the major obstacles in the care of babies on the edge of viability is to provide adequate nutritio