Advancing Science Through Collaborative NICU Nutrition

摘要

It is gratifying to know that our premature babies are surviving with either none or less severe medical and developmental conditions because of the accomplishments in medical treatment over the past 2 decades. Nutrition delivery has been at the forefront of providing improved health outcomes.Ten to 15 years ago, the start of nutrition historically occurred when the neonate stabilized, sometimes 10 to 20 days (or later!) after birth, where now nutrition delivery starts within hours. Changes in medical delivery have significantly impacted life expectancy and outcomes for the less than thirty weeks gestational age neonate with specialized nutrition support influencing length of stay. The decrease in chronic lung disease has also allowed for greatly improved nutrition status early in the neonatal stay for premature infants.1