Optimal Nutrition and Growth of Very Premature Neonates: How Feasible Is It to Achieve at Present?

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few years, there has been a significant shift in the feeding practices and growth targets for premature neonates that have contributed to the further improvements in morbidity, survival and long-term prognosis, even for neonates on the extremes of viability. This period could be considered a Third Era in Νeonatology as, in our opinion, the changes observed were greater in effect even compared to the Second Era.

Despite some broad agreement between feeding guidelines regarding the protein and calorie content, there remain significant variation and policy disagreements, even within the NICUs of the same countries.  There has also been no wider consensus on how to approach special categories of neonates such as those with intrauterine growth restriction, small for gestational age or neonates that develop major morbidities.

In this Special Issue, we would like to invite original articles and reviews that provide perspectives on those contentious issues. We hope for these to be part of the wider discussion and consensus building around the development of universally accepted practices in the feeding and growing of premature neonates that will help them become healthier children and adults.

Prof. Dr. Antonios K. Gounaris
Dr. Rozeta Sokou
Guest Editors

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• nutrition of preterm neonates
• major morbidities
• intrauterine growth restriction
• small for gestational age
• neonates at the limits of viability