An enteral elemental diet for infants and children with surgical disorders.

Sixty-nine infants and children with surgical disorders were fed an enteral elemental diet consisting of synthetic L-amino acids, dextroglucose, soybean oil, electrolytes and vitamins. Satisfactory clinical results were achieved in 55 patients, whose average positive nitrogen balance was approximately 578 mg/day in neonates, 1,518 mg/day in infants and 2,452 mg/day in children; average weight gain was approximately 16 g/day in neonates, 23 g/day in infants, and 21 g/day in children during total enteral nutrition with the diet. Elevation of serum transaminase values was noted in 5 patients receiving total enteral nutrition with the diet. Liver toxicity may have been caused by the composition of amino acids of the diet, solely free amino acids as protein component. However, the diet provided a valuable therapeutic alternative to total parenteral nutrition in selected infants and children requiring surgery.