Semi-elemental mixtures in the practice of a pediatric surgeon

Since the first days of life nutrition is a necessary component of child's harmonious development. A particularly acute problem of child’s feeding is faced by physicians, if the child underwent any gastrointestinal surgery. Numerous studies have shown that malnutrition affects 50% of hospitalized children and 25–70% of seriously ill children. Natural nutrition is a real challenge for children in critical conditions. Currently, enteral nutrition is considered to be a preferred modality in pediatric patients with surgical pathology. A significant development of enteric formula industry over the past few years has put this type of nutrition at the forefront in helping operated children. Specialized mixtures for enteral nutrition which contain split protein or amino acid fragments gain an advantage over whole-protein mixtures. The lecture highlights main approaches to the prescription of enteral nutrition for children at the early postoperative and post-traumatic period.