Parenteral nutrition therapy for neonates: Experience in a tertiary care centre in Sri Lanka

Background: There is scarce literature about the practice of parenteral nutrition (PN) in neonates in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of neonates receiving PN, the current practice of PN and the complications developing in neonates receiving PN in Sri Lanka.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on babies receiving PN after admission to the Special Care Baby Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre in Sri Lanka during 2014. Data was gathered from mothers, medical records and by clinical examination of the babies.

Results: Fifty six neonates were on PN during 2014. Twenty (36%) were on PN for 4 days. All babies were fed on breast milk as the trophic feeds except one who was given formula milk. Initiation of trophic feeds was early (median day 2). Fifty one (91%) were started on trophic feeds by day 3 with 14 (25%) on day 1. Twenty six (46%) developed complications consisting of septicaemia (5), hypoglycaemia (9), hyperglycaemia (2), hypernatraemia (23), 4 had catheter site related complications (4) and thrombocytopenia (7).

Conclusions: The median duration of PN was 4 days. Trophic feeds with expressed breast milk were started in 91% by day three. Forty six percent of babies on PN developed complications.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2018; 47(1): 16-20