Issues in the nutritional support of the ventilated baby.

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) premature infants who populate intensive care nurseries today often receive such overriding attention to their acute respiratory illness that appropriate attention to certain other adjunctive needs; adequate nutrition is often delayed. The outcome for these ELBW infants may be influenced by the intensity and length of the period of less-than-adequate nutrition. This article discusses initial fluid therapy, early postnatal intravenous amino acid administration, choice of energy substrate, and initiation and advancement of enteral feedings.