Feeding extremely low birth weight infants.

CME EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: 1.List the indications for parenteral nutrition in the preterm infant.2.Estimate protein and calories required by a preterm infant to support appropriate fetal weight gain.3.Discuss the calcium and phosphorus needs of preterm infants. The patient presented as a 5-week-old 26 week preterm infant, with a birth weight of 686 g. Her mother was 25 years old. The child's Apgar scores were 6 and 7 at 1 and 5 minutes. The infant was intubated after birth and placed on the high-frequency oscillator on day of life (DOL) 3 because of worsening respiratory failure. She was placed back on conventional mechanical ventilation on DOL 7, extubated on DOL 15, and placed on 40% oxygen via nasal cannula. She was discharged home on DOL 84 without mechanical ventilation.