Tolerance of fat emulsions in very-low-birth-weight neonates
Y. W. Brans, D. S. Andrew, D. W. Carrillo, E. P. Dutton, E. M. Menchaca and B. A. Puleo-Scheppke
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
Fluid and energy intakes and plasma concentrations of various lipid
fractions were studied in 45 newborn infants, weighing between 820 and 1550
g, randomly assigned to one of three regimens for infusion of a fat
emulsion: group 1, stepwise increase in daily dosage (1 to 4 g/kg) at a
steady rate over 24 hours; group 2, stepwise increase in daily dosage (1 to
4 g/kg) at a steady rate over 16 hours, followed by a rest period of eight
hours; and group 3, full dosage (4 g/kg) at a steady rate over 24 hours. At
a given daily rate of infusion, mean plasma concentrations of the various
lipid fractions tended to be higher in group 2 than in either group 1 or
group 3. Plasma lipid concentrations correlated best with the hourly rate
of lipid infusion, regardless of whether the infusion was continuous over
24 hours or intermittent.
