NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT AND THE MULTISYSTEM ORGAN FAILURE SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME IN CRITICALLY ILL PRETERM NEONATES

Current information and concepts regarding unique features and practic al aspects of metabolism and the nutritional management of critically ill, very low birthweight neonates are reviewed in this article. The u se of ''gut priming'' (early hypocaloric minimal enteral feeding) and parenteral nutrition and their application to the treatment of specifi c disease states is discussed. The concepts of critical oxygen deliver y and multiorgan failure and their impact on nutritional management in adult; show striking similarities to metabolic observations of progre ssively deteriorating, sick neonates.