Intravenous nutrition (IVN) and fluids calculator: preterm infants
This calculator is designed to provide maximal nutritional intakes for the majority of infants who require IVN using Starship Child Health NICU standard IVN solutions.
Our standard solutions are designed to meet the infant's usual nutritional requirements in a relatively small volume of fluid.
C100 is the standard (amino acid and glucose) solution we use and can be administered via a central or peripheral line.
C100 is given at a maximum volume of 96 ml/kg/day for infants ≤ 1000 g, which will provide 4.0 g/Kg/day of protein.
For Infants >1000 g, the usual maximum is 90 ml/Kg/day providing 3.8 g/Kg/day of protein.
We also use a standard lipid solution with vitamins added called PremSMOF.
The remainder of the fluid requirement is made up with 10% glucose.
Occasional infants will require an individualised IVN solution.
NANO preterm infants are defined as infants born between 22+0 and 23+6 weeks or birthweight < 600 g irrespective of gestational age. Until the calculator is avaialble please contact dietitian for charting. The suggested fluid rates are: Day 1 Total IV fluids – 100-120 mL/kg/day, of which 60 mL/kg/day is NANO135. Remaining 40-60 mL/kg/day – given as 10% glucose, 5% glucose or 2.5% glucose based on blood glucose levels. Lipid emulsion – 1-2 g/kg/day, either as extra fluids or included in total; Day 2 onwards (during early transition period with acute metabolic complications of excess fluid loss, hyperglycaemia and azotaemia): Total IV fluids may be up to 200 mL/kg/day, especially in the first week.
Please consider carefully whether the infant requires IVN or whether 10% glucose (with or without additives) can be used. In general, larger infants (>1500 g) who are expected to feed quickly should not be prescribed IVN.