Overall acute nutritional management of the newborn
Example: A newborn infant presenting with an episode
appears normal for the first two days after birth, but
suddenly experiences poor feeding on the third day.
He is irritable and vomiting by the time he is admitted
to hospital.
The acute nutritional management of such a newborn
infant requires the immediate withdrawal of all
protein for 24–48 h. Longer withdrawal of protein may
induce catabolism that will worsen the hyperammonaemia.
The nutritionist must also attempt to enhance
anabolism via an intravenous hypercaloric protein-free
solution given with insulin. This should ensure that the
energy is used and that the patient becomes anabolic