Enteric alimentation in specialized gastrointestinal problems: an alternative to total parenteral nutrition.

This review has focused on the enteric nutritional management of infants with abnormalities of volume tolerance, digestion, and/or absorption. The necessity of individually assessing the patient's needs vis-à-vis the alternatives cannot be overemphasized. In some patients, enteral feedings are precluded and IV alimentation is the only alternative. For a discussion of IV nutrition options we refer the physician to an excellent review. We also wish to emphasize that in a review of this nature we cannot discuss the relative virtues of closely related formulas. We therefore encourage the physician to obtain product handbooks from the manufacturers.