Objective: To determine the types of parenteral lipid emulsions currently used for preterm infants, their mode of delivery, and the main disease conditions that are considered by neonatologists as contraindications.
Design: National survey using a questionnaire.
Setting: 155 neonatal departments in France.
Results: 100 (65%) neonatal departments participated in the survey. The most widely used lipid emulsion was the 20% soybean oil/coconut oil-based emulsion (68% of the units), followed by the soybean oil-based emulsion (28.5%) and the soybean oil/olive oil-based emulsion (3.5%). Peripheral venous access was considered to be a possible route for the infusion of lipid emulsions in only 58 (63.7%) of the units. In 80%-90% of the units, sepsis, hemodynamic failure, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and hyperbilirubinemia were considered to be relative or absolute contraindications, whereas only hemodynamic failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and to a lesser extent sepsis were most often perceived as absolute contraindications.
Conclusions: Neonatologists are somewhat reluctant to use parenteral lipids when only peripheral venous access is available, despite the low osmolarity of the emulsions. This may impair, at least temporarily, the adequate supply of energy and/or essential fatty acids in infants who do not have central venous access. This study also shows a large heterogeneity of responses with regard to the contraindications for parenteral lipids.