Breakthrough Solutions for Infants with Gastroschisis: Support for Post-Surgery Recovery

Good News for Infants with Gastroschisis: Introducing Surgifort

Gastroschisis Awareness Month has brought encouraging news for families dealing with the challenges of gastroschisis, a rare gastrointestinal birth defect affecting 1 in every 2,400 newborns annually in the U.S. Prolacta Bioscience has announced the launch of their revolutionary product, Surgifort, a nutritional fortifier made entirely from donor breast milk, providing crucial support for newborns recovering from this surgery.

Understanding Gastroschisis and Its Challenges

Gastroschisis is a serious condition where an infant is born with their intestines protruding through a hole in the abdominal wall. Generally, surgical intervention is necessary shortly after birth to reposition the intestines inside the body and close the opening. However, the recovery process poses significant nutritional challenges for these fragile infants.

After surgery, many babies with gastroschisis struggle to absorb nutrients and tolerate feedings adequately. This makes proper nutritional support essential for their healing and growth. Hence, specialized nutritional products, like Surgifort, are pivotal in ensuring these infants' needs are met.

What is Surgifort?

Surgifort is an FDA-approved liquid human milk-based fortifier specifically designed for term infants recovering from corrective surgery for gastroschisis. It is made from 100% pasteurized donor milk and fortified with essential minerals, delivering the right balance of macronutrients including protein, fat, and carbohydrates that these infants require during their critical recovery phase.

Dr. Melinda Elliott, a leading neonatologist and the chief medical officer at Prolacta, emphasizes the importance of high-quality nutrition in the recovery trajectory: "Babies recovering from gastroschisis surgery need a robust nutritional foundation to help them grow and thrive. Surgifort fortifier harnesses the clinically proven advantages of human milk-based nutrition, which can significantly benefit this underserved group of critically ill infants."

The Benefits of Using Surgifort

The fortifier not only meets but exceeds the nutritional criteria for infants post-surgery, as it is lactose-free and devoid of cow milk protein, which can be hard for many infants to digest. Instead, it delivers concentrated nutrition tailored specifically for their developmental needs.

Research shows that incorporating Surgifort into the dietary regimen of recovering infants can reduce the time to full feeds and enhance weight gain velocity. In fact, clinical observations have indicated an average weight gain of 33.3 grams per day from the beginning to the end of the use of Surgifort.

Prolacta Bioscience: Leading the Charge in Human Milk Nutrition

Prolacta Bioscience is a pioneer in human milk-based nutritional products, with a commitment to enhancing outcomes for critically ill infants. Their extensive research has benefited over 125,000 premature infants worldwide, proving the efficacy of their human milk-derived solutions. With operations that maintain the highest quality standards in human milk processing, Prolacta aims to ensure both safety and nutritional integrity in its products.

The development of Surgifort reflects Prolacta's dedication to addressing the unique needs of infants with gastroschisis, advocating for their health and wellbeing. Through their continuous research and unique methodologies, they operate the world’s first pharmaceutical-grade processing facilities, adhering to stringent health and safety regulations.

Conclusion

As Gastroschisis Awareness Month shines a light on this critical issue, it serves as a reminder of the crucial role nutrition plays in the healing journey of affected infants. The introduction of Surgifort by Prolacta Bioscience is a significant step forward in providing tailored nutritional support to enable these vulnerable children to thrive after surgery. Parents and caregivers can find solace in knowing that there are innovative solutions available to support their little ones at such a critical time.