Early aggressive nutrition: parenteral amino acids and minimal enteral nutrition for extremely low birth weight (<1 000 g) infants.

Postnatal growth failure in the extremely low birthweight infant is a morbidity that needs vigorous attention. The transition from intrauterine to the extrauterine environment should occur with minimal disruption in nutritional support. Early aggressive parenteral and enteral nutrition strategies may lead to reducing cumulative deficits of energy and protein that occur during the first weeks of life. These strategies decrease the degree of postnatal weight loss, reduce the age that birthweight is regained and the age that full enteral nutrition is achieved. Overall growth outcomes are also improved through discharge and beyond. This article provides clinical practicum to guide the use of early parenteral nutrition and both miminal enteral nutrition and advancing enteral nutrition.