Parenteral nutrition in low-birth-weight infants

Parenteral nutrition has been used in the nutritional management of low-birthweight infants for the past 25 years. Nonetheless, many aspects of the technique still are not completely understood. Further, other aspects that are reasonably well understood frequently are not applied in clinical practice. As a result, infants requiring this therapy frequently do not benefit maximally from it. Some of the important issues concerning this technique are discussed, and some of the important questions that need to be addressed are identified. Answers to many of these important questions are necessary to further enhance the benefits and diminish the undesired consequences of this therapy for infants who require it.