The role of intravenous nutrition in low birth-weight infants.

Seven infants with birth weights less than lS00g received total parenteral nutrition for seven to 16 days through the peripheral route, commencing within the first 24 hours of life. Excessive weight loss was prevented and the infants showed significant weight gain. The time required to regain the initial birth weight showed an improvement over that expected in conventionally managed infants. Metabolic and septic complications were minimal and easily manageable. The results demonstrate that the technique, when properly used, warrants consideration in feeding low birth weight infants incapable of tolerating enteral feeding.