Parenteral nutntlon has been an essential part of postoperative care of neonates requiring major surgery who are unable to tolerate enteral feeding for long periods during the postoperative period. However, TPN via central venous catheters(central TPN), used in increasing trend, still presents significant morbidity. To find out whether TPN via peripheral veins(peripheral TPN) could be used as a viable alternative for postoperative parenteral nutrition in neonates, a clinical study was carried out by a retrospective analysis of 53 neonates subjected to peripheral TPN for more than 7 days after surgery. Operations consisted of procedures for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroschisis and omphalocele. Surgery was performed at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Hospitall, from 1983 to 1994. The mean total duration of TPN was 13.3 days (range; 7-58 days), the average daily total fluid intake was 117.6 ml/kg during TPN and 158.6 ml/kg during subsequent oral feeding. The average daily total calorie intake was 57.7 kcal/kg during full strength TPN and 101.3 kcal/kg during subsequent oral feeding. The mean urine output was maintained at 3.5 ml/kg/hour during TPN and at 3.6 ml/kg/hour during subsequent oral feeding. The increment of body weight observed during TPN was 132g in TEF, 53g in gastroschisis and 3g in omphalocele patients, while loss of body weight was not observed. The mortality rate was 5.7%(3/53) and was related to the underlying congenital anomalies, not the TPN. The most common complication of peripheral TPN observed was laboratory findings suggestive of liver dysfunction in 23 cases( 43.4%) with no significant clinical symptom or signs in any case, transient pulmonary edema in one case, and generalized edema in one case. None of the major complications usually expected associated with central TPN were observed. The result of this study suggest that peripheral TPN can be used for adeguate postoperative nutritional support in neonates requiring 2 to 3 weeks of TPN.

Primary segmental volvulus of the small intestine is not associated with malrotation, malfixation of the midgut, nor other primary small bowel lesions such as small bowel tumors. This entity is known to be more prevalent in adult and in certain global areas associated with particular diet habits. There have been very few reports in neonates, but not in this country so far. The author reports two cases of primary segmental volvulus. Case 1 was a septic 4-day-old girl with hematochezia due to jejunal volvulus with partial necrosis and panperitonitis. Resection of the segment and Bishop-Koop enterostomy were successful. Case 2 was a 3-day-old boy, who had ileal volvulus with ultra-short length of ileal atresia, probably due to intrauterine segmental volvulus. Limited resection of the atresia and spreading of the mesenteric base were enough to recovery. The rarity of the pathognomonic findings and limitation of the diagnostic workup due to rapid prqgression limit early diagnosis and good survival rate in this particular condition.