Nasojejunal alimentation for premature and full-term newborn infants

Thirty-six ill premature (mean gestation 32.8 weeks, mean birth weight 1,624 Gm.) and 10 sick, full-term, newborn infants received continuous infusions of formula by nasojejunal alimentation as a means of total nutritional support for periods of 2 to 75 days. In the premature infants the mean duration of nasojejunal feedings was 20.1 days, and the mean weight gain was 17.3 Gm. per day. The mean of the maximum rate of infusion was 145.8 ml. per kilogram per day with corresponding mean caloric intake of 113.6 cal. per kilogram per day and protein intake of 2.9 Gm. per kilogram per day. Only 3 of 46 infants (6.5 per cent) failed to gain weight while receiving sole nutritional support by jejunal alimentation; 2 of them died within 72 hours of age with hyaline membrane disease and intraventricular cerebral hemorrhages, and the third infant died at age 13 days (birth weight 680 Gm.) with hyaline membrane disease. The mean duration of infusion for the sick full-term infants was 10.8 days; their mean weight gain was 18.3 Gm. per day. No significant alterations were observed in serial determinations of blood glucose, of serum calcium, sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen, and osmolality, or of hemogram during jejunal infusion. No abnormalities were noted in urinary or fecal output and analysis.