What Conditions May Require Enteral Nutrition in Neonates?
Several neonatal disorders may necessitate enteral nutrition, including:
- Prematurity: Premature infants often have underdeveloped sucking and swallowing reflexes. - Congenital Heart Disease: Infants may have increased metabolic demands and feeding difficulties. - Gastrointestinal Disorders: Conditions like Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) can impair the ability to feed orally. - Neurological Impairments: Conditions such as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) may affect the ability to coordinate sucking and swallowing.
