INTRODUCTION Optimal nutrition is critical in the management of the very low birth weight (VLBW) infant. METHODS The type of feeding, initiation, route and schedule of feeding, and the rate of increase in feeding volume were reviewed. RESULTS Human milk from the preterm infant's mother is the feeding of choice. When full enteral feeding is established, supplementation of human milk with a m...

Aspiration pneumonia is common in older people. To reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, maintenance of good oral hygiene is important and medications affecting salivary flow or causing sedation are best avoided, if possible. The use of H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors should be minimised. Different compensatory and facilitation techniques can be applied during oral feeding. Hand feedi...