Impact of Computer Calculation Program on Quality of Individualized Parenteral Nutrition and Selected Clinical Parameters of Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to assess the effects of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) for parenteral nutrition (PN) on selected clinical parameters of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) neonates in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS This study was a retrospective data analysis of preterm infants born over a 1-year period before and after introduction of CPOE. PN composition during the first 2 weeks of life, change in weight, head circumference and body length z-scores were assessed. Duration of PN and selected neonatal complications were compared. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding variables (sex, birth weight, and birth-gestational age). RESULTS Ninety-four patients in 2 equal groups were analyzed. Birth weight (median 810 vs 825 g) and gestational age (27 vs 27 weeks) were comparable. After adjustment for confounding variables, on the first and seventh day of life, significantly more energy (P < .001), protein (P < .001), lipid (P < .03), and carbohydrate (P < .02) were administered in the CPOE group than in the manually calculated (MC) prescriptions group. The CPOE group had lower weight loss (P < .001), a significant improvement in linear growth, and faster regain of birth weight (P < .01) compared with the MC group. CONCLUSION The CPOE positively influences the quality of PN in ELBW infants. It also significantly reduced initial weight loss, time to regain birth weight, and linear growth. It may also have beneficial effects on selected clinical outcomes, which requires further study.