Perioperative nutritional support: a randomised clinical trial

Ever since methods of artificial nutritional support became available, attempts have been made using this form of treatment to reduce mortality and morbidity in surgical patients. Many trials have addressed this question, but very few have given a meaningful answer because of conceptual and methodological flaws. We therefore undertook a prospective randomised trial investigating the effects of at least 10 days pre-operative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (n = 51) or total enteral nutrition (TEN) (n = 50) providing 150% basal energy expenditure (BEE) non-protein energy, to reduce major postoperative complications and mortality in a homogeneous patient group with signs of depletion. 50 patients served as a depleted control group (D) and 49 patients served as a non-depleted reference group (ND) and were operated upon without delay. Depleted control patients suffered significantly more septic complications than did patients in the non-depleted reference group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference, however, in septic complications between either of the nutritional support groups and the non-depleted control group. In high risk patients, with weight loss >10% of body weight and over 500 ml blood loss during operation, a significant decrease in major complications was observed (p < 0.05) as a result of nutritional support. We conclude that pre-operative nutritional support, in patients with severe depletion, results in a reduction in major complications to a degree that justifies its routine use in this selected group of patients.     

A critical appraisal of the usefulness of perioperative nutritional support.

Preoperative malnutrition is often associated with poor postoperative outcome, yet there is no consensus about whether perioperative nutritional support reduces postoperative complications to the level occurring in well-nourished patients undergoing similar procedures. This is partly because reports evaluating effect of perioperative nutritional support on postoperative outcome vary widely in number of patients studied, primary diagnosis, and duration and quality of perioperative nutritional support. These concerns warrant caution in interpreting reported results, even of randomized studies. However, analysis of published reports suggests that when total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is given to malnourished patients in adequate amounts for greater than or equal to 7-15 d preoperatively, significant improvements in both nutritional status and postoperative clinical outcome are likely to occur. Preoperative total enteral nutrition (TEN) is as effective as TPN in improving postoperative clinical outcome. Postoperative TPN, TEN, and ad libitum oral nutrition are equally effective in reducing postoperative complications. Potential candidates for surgery for whom prompt initiation of preoperative TPN or TEN may reduce operative morbidity and mortality irrespective of nutritional status can be identified on admission.     

肠外瘘病人肠内营养支持临床应用研究

目的：观察肠内营养在肠外瘘病人应用的时机、条件、途径及肠内营养制品的选择,研究肠内营养在肠外瘘病人中的作用。方法：收集１７０例肠外瘘病人诊断、住院总天数及全肠外营养（ＴＰＮ）、全肠内营养（ＴＥＮ）、肠内＋肠外营养（ＰＮ＋ＥＮ）、经口饮食的天数,计算不同营养支持方法期间,非蛋白质热量、蛋白质的供给量和并发症的发生率。收集ＴＰＮ、ＴＥＮ支持前和支持后满１５天病人的血清白蛋白浓度。另对４０例肠外瘘病人进行为期１５天的前瞻性观察,了解肠内营养对白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、纤维连结蛋白、总蛋白、球蛋白和肝酶谱的影响。结果：１７０例病人的总住院天数为１３５５３天,其中１６４人曾使用ＴＰＮ６０４０天（４４．６％）;１２９人使用ＴＥＮ３６７６天（２７．１％）;８３人使用肠内＋肠外营养４８９天（３．６％）;１２８人经口饮食２３３     

Enteral versus parenteral nutrition: a pragmatic study

Controversy persists as to the optimal means of providing adjuvant nutritional support. The aim of this study was to compare enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (TPN) in terms of adequacy of nutritional intake, septic and nonseptic morbidity, and mortality. This was a prospective pragmatic study, whereby the route of delivery of nutritional support was determined by the attending clinician's assessment of gastrointestinal function. Patients considered to have inadequate gastrointestinal function were given TPN (group 1), while those deemed to have a functioning gastrointestinal tract received EN (group 2). Patients in whom there was reasonable doubt as to the adequacy of intestinal function were randomized to receive either TPN (group 3) or EN (group 4). The trial setting was a large district general hospital with a dedicated nutrition team. A total of 562 patients were included in the study (331 males; median age 67 y). Gastrointestinal function on entry into the study was considered inadequate in 267 patients who were given TPN (group 1) and adequate in 231 whom received EN (group 2). There was clinical uncertainty about the adequacy of gut function in 64 patients (11.4%) who were randomized to receive either TPN (group 3, 32 patients) or EN (group 4, 32 patients). The incidence of inadequate nutritional intake was significantly higher in group 4 compared with group 3 (78.1% versus 25%, P < 0.001). Complications related to the delivery system and other feed-related morbidity were significantly more frequent in both EN groups compared with the respective TPN groups. EN was associated with a higher overall mortality in both nonrandomized and randomized patients. There were no significant differences observed in the incidences of septic morbidity between patients receiving TPN and those given EN. EN is associated with a higher incidence of inadequate nutritional intake, complications related to the delivery system, and other feed-related morbidity than TPN. There is no evidence from this study to support a difference between the two modalities in terms of septic morbidity. Patients in whom there is reasonable doubt as to the adequacy of gastrointestinal function should be fed by the parenteral route.     

消化道肿瘤-T-术后早期肠内营养疗效研究

目的评价消化道肿瘤手术后早期肠内营养的安全性,比较手术后短期应用要素制剂爱伦多的肠内营养与标准肠外营养支持的疗效。 方法62例消化道恶性肿瘤手术患者,随机分为对照组、肠外营养组和肠内营养组。手术后第一天开始等热卡、等氮量的肠外或肠内营养支持一周。检测体重、机体测量指标、血浆各内脏蛋白浓度及氮平衡等营养指标,外周血T细胞亚群、NK细胞和NK细胞活性等免疫指标及血清氨基酸谱。 结果三组病人术后体重下降分别为4．26±1．03ks、2．04±0．65ke和2．12±o．72kg,对照组与肠外营养组、肠内营养组之间差异有显著性(P<0．05),后两组之间无差异。术后各内脏蛋白浓度均低于术前,对照组降低最明显,与肠外或肠内营养组之间差异有显著性(P<0．05),而后两组之间无差异。三组病人平均氮平衡为—8．6±3．12g／d,—4．22±2．02g／d及—3．88±2．35g／d,对照组与肠外或肠内营养组之间差异有显著性(P<0．05),而后两组之间无差异。手术后各组病人外周血T细胞亚群、NK细胞和NK细胞活性均不同程度下降,但三组之间差异无显著性意义。三组病人血清谷氨酰胺水平明显下降,术后1周对照组和肠外营养组血清谷氨酰胺水平仍处于低水平,而肠内营养组却有一定程度恢复。 结论消化道肿瘤手术后早期肠内营养支持是安全、有效的方法,短期肠内营养和肠外营养支持的临床效果基本相同。     

Liver function tests abnormalities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving artificial nutrition: a prospective randomized study of total enteral nutrition vs total parenteral nutrition

Liver and biliary abnormalities are well-known complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been suggested that using total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may further impair liver function in these patients; this seems not to be so with total enteral nutrition (TEN). However, prospective trials comparing the incidence of liver function test (LFT) abnormalities with either TPN or TEN have not been carried out. Twenty-nine IBD inpatients with normal LFT, randomized to receive either TEN with a polymeric diet or isocaloric, isonitrogenous "all-in-one" TPN because of protein-energy malnutrition and/or severe disease, were included in the study. Sixteen patients (five with ulcerative colitis and 11 with Crohn's disease) received TEN, and 13 patients (eight ulcerative colitis and five Crohn's disease) were on TPN. All patients were on systemic steroids, and nine of them were on oral metronidazole. Both groups were homogeneous regarding age, sex, diagnosis, disease activity, nutritional status, daily nutrient supply, and days on artificial nutrition. Serum albumin levels significantly increased with TEN (32 +/- 1 to 38.2 +/- 1.6 g/liter, p less than 0.01), but not with TPN (32.1 +/- 2.2 to 33.9 +/- 1.4 g/liter, NS). Clinical improvement occurred in both groups of patients as shown by the change in the disease activity indexes. In all cases, measurements of serum alkaline phosphatase, serum bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase were performed weekly. There were no significant differences in the initial LFT between both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Selective bowel decontamination, nutritional therapy and bacterial translocation after burn injury

We studied the influence of selective bowel decontamination (SBD) with neomycin, on bacterial translocation (BT) in rats treated with early post-burn parenteral nutrition (TPN) or enteral nutrition (TEN). Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive either TPN (groups 1, 2) or an isonitrogenous, isocaloric polymeric diet (TEN, groups 3, 4) or a standard rat chow ad libitum (group 5), for 5 days after burn injury (30% b. s. area). In addition, groups 1 and 3 received a daily oral dose of neomycin (30 mg/kg) during the same period. At the end of the study, animals were killed and the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver (L) and spleen (S) were removed for microbiological cultures. The overall incidence of BT was MLN: 67%, L: 58% and S: 42% with a mortality rate of 12.2% In MLN and L, group 5 showed significantly less BT than groups 1 and 2 (30% vs 84%, p < 0.02) and groups 3 and 4 (38% vs 76%, p < 0.05), respectively. No differences were found between TPN and TEN groups. SBD (groups 1 and 3) resulted in a significantly lower mortality rate (26% vs 0%, p < 0.05) and BT in the liver (38% vs 100%, p < 0.001) than rats without antibiotic treatment (groups 2 and 4). It is concluded that early post-injury TPN or TEN promote BT to a greater extent than a standard chow. In addition, SBD with neomycin prevents mortality and BT after burn injury.     

重症急性胰腺炎的营养支持治疗

目的：探讨营养支持在重症急性胰腺炎病人治疗中的价值及特点。方法;通过对１７例重症急性胰腺炎营养支持治疗,观察其应用的必要性。采取低热量,高氮量的营养配方,糖脂比例为１：１,热氮比４１８．４（ｋＪ）：１（ｇ）。全肠外营养全部自中心静脉供给。分阶段逐渐由ＴＰＮ过渡到全肠内营养或口服饮食。     

重度烧伤病人早期肠内营养支持的研究

目的:研究重度烧伤病人早期应用肠内营养支持的疗效及安全性。方法:41例烧伤面积超过30%的病人随机分为肠内营养组(TEN,n=21)和肠外营养支持为主的常规治疗组(CONT,n=20)。给与相当氮量和能量,7d后观察两组内脏蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子-α和预后炎症营养指数(prognosticinflammatoryandnutritionalindex,PINI)等的变化及不良反应。结果:TEN组前白蛋白水平(mg/L)从99.9±25.1上升至115.8±31.0,CONT组从96.0±31.8显著下降至69.4±17.3(P<0.01)。TEN组C-反应蛋白与TNF-α水平显著低于CONT组,CONT组的PINI值比TEN组显著升高;两组不良反应发生情况相当。结论:早期肠内营养支持改善重度烧伤病人营养状况的疗效优于常规治疗,安全可行。     

Changes in liver function tests in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on enteral nutrition

Morphologic and functional hepatic changes occur in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with this disease often require the administration of artificial nutritional support. Liver function tests (LFT) derangement is a widely recognized side-effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Therefore, the use of this modality of nutritional support may be an additional factor to cause hepatic damage in IBD patients. However whether or not the same occurs in patients receiving total enteral nutrition (TEN) is not well-established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of TEN upon LFT in patients with moderate to severe acute attacks of IBD, by means of a prospective, controlled, and nonrandomized design. Forty-nine patients were included; 29 (11 patients with ulcerative colitis and 18 with Crohn's disease) received TEN, and 20 (11 with ulcerative colitis and 9 with Crohn's disease) did not. Both groups were homogeneous regarding age, sex, disease activity index, nutritional status, and length of the study (24.8 +/- 1.3 vs 23.9 +/- 16.8 days). In all cases, weekly measurements of serum alkaline phosphatase, GOT, and GPT were performed. There were no significant differences in LFT at the beginning of the study between groups. The percentage of patients showing derangement of some LFT during the study did not differ between both groups: six of 29 (20.6%) in TEN group vs three of 20 (15%) in control group. Six out of the nine patients (in both groups) who developed LFT derangement had one or more causes, other than TEN for explaining hepatic dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Use of nutrition support in patients with AIDS: a four-year retrospective review.

A series of 55 patients with AIDS and opportunistic infections were admitted a total of 75 times to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital over a 4-year period, and supplemental nutrition support--intravenous (IV), enteral, or both--was given during 32 of these admissions. Use of nutrition support was correlated retrospectively with pretreatment nutritional status, length of hospital stay (LOS), and survival and was found to be positively correlated with weight loss greater than or equal to 10% or weight less than or equal to 90% of ideal body weight (p less than 0.001), admission hemoglobin less than or equal to 10g (p less than 0.001), and LOS less than or equal to 21 days (p less than or equal to 0.003). Nutrition support intervention did not correlate with survival, admission total lymphocyte count (TLC), or serum albumin level. Survival was negatively correlated with LOS (p less than or equal to 0.04) and continuous daily fever for greater than or equal to 6 days (p less than 0.001). Survival was also significantly lower in patients who received IV rather than enteral nutrition support (p less than or equal to 0.03). Weight loss, admission TLC, albumin, and hemoglobin levels did not correlate with survival. These results suggest that nutrition support generally was given to the sickest patients with AIDS. There was no measurable benefit associated with use of supplemental nutritional support in this series. Properly designed trials will be necessary to define the optimum route, timing, and type of nutritional support for patients with AIDS.     

Modulating effects of the feeding route on stress response and endotoxin translocation in severely stressed patients receiving thoracic esophagectomy

Experimental studies have demonstrated that the route of nutritional supply impacts the systemic metabolic responses after surgical injury. Intestinal mucosal atrophy, as induced by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or prolonged bowel rest, has been reported to enhance bowel endotoxin translocation. The operative procedure for thoracic esophageal cancer, including thoracotomy, laparotomy, and three-field lymph-node dissection, is a particularly stressful surgery that requires long-term aggressive nutritional support and often results in the postoperative hypermetabolic state, leading to perturbation of postoperative immune function. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in host inflammatory responses, whereas IL-10 is linked to suppression of cellular immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate how the antecedent nutritional routes influence systemic IL-6 and IL-10 responses and endotoxin translocation after an operation for thoracic esophageal cancer. Twenty-nine patients who underwent esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy were investigated. They were assigned to groups receiving either TPN (n = 18) or enteral nutrition (EN; n = 11) providing 35 kcal x kg(-1) x d(-1) of energy and approximately 1.2-1.5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) of amino acids. These nutritional supports were conducted from 1 wk before the operation to 14 d after the operation. Serum IL-6, IL-10, and endotoxin concentration were measured before and during the operation and at 2 h and 1, 3, and 7 d after the operation. IL-6 in sera was significantly higher after the operation in both groups. In the EN group, however, significantly less IL-6 production was observed on the third and seventh postoperative days when compared with those patients in the TPN group. Similarly, serum IL-10 concentration in the TPN group showed a significantly higher level than that in the EN group. Serum IL-6 showed a significant positive correlation with IL-10 at 2 h and at 7 d after the operation, suggesting that the reduced inflammatory responses were related to the inhibition of the development of postoperative immunosuppression. Endotoxin concentration in sera was significantly lower in the EN group after the operation than in the TPN group. Perioperative EN provides better regulation of inflammatory cytokine responses and may contribute less to immunosuppression after major surgery than parenteral nutrition. The attenuated production of endotoxin induced by EN may play an important role in these phenomena.     

全胃切除术后早期肠内肠外营养的对比研究

目的：探讨全胃切除术后早期肠内营养（EEN）与全肠外营养（TPN）对患者营养状况的改善及并发症发生率的影响。方法：将86例接受根治性全胃切除的胃癌患者随机分为EEN组和TPN组。EEN组手术后第1天开始分别给予营养支持,于术前1天、术后8天检测体重、血常规、肝功能、前白蛋白和C-反应蛋白,并观察并发症的发生率和平均住院费用。结果：EEN组体重、白蛋白、前白蛋白下降幅度和白细胞、转氨酶、C-反应蛋白升高幅度均少于TPN组。EEN组患者吻合口瘘、肺部感染、切口愈合不良等并发症发病率低于TPN组。EEN组的平均住院费用低于TPN组。结论：术后EEN较TPN能改善全胃切除术后患者的营养状况,降低并发症发生率,减少经济费用。     

全肠外营养在腹部外科围手术期的应用体会

目的自1998年12月以来对53例腹部大、中手术的病人,在围手术期辅以全肠外营养支持治疗(TPN)的作用。     

Effects of prolonged, purine-free total parenteral and enteral nutrition on urate homeostasis in man

The influence on human urate homeostasis of prolonged, totally purine-free nutritional support, using total parenteral (TPN) or elemental enteral (EN) nutrition, is not well known. In a prospective study, we measured weekly serum uric acid, renal urate excretion and clearance, together with parameters of hydration, in 58 normally hydrated patients receiving prolonged (15 to 170 days) purine-free TPN (30 patients) or EN (28 patients) for various gastrointestinal disorders. A marked, early and sustained decrease (p less than 0.001) in serum uric acid was observed in TPN (155 +/- 9 mumol/l at day 7 versus 318 +/- 13 mumol/l before nutrition, mean +/- SEM) as well as in EN patients (192 +/- 11 mumol/l at day 7 versus 320 +/- 16 mumol/l before nutrition), together with a significant (p less than 0.01) rise in renal urate clearance. The urate clearance/glomerular filtration rate ratio increased significantly, while there was no significant change in natremia or plasma osmolarity. Serum urate and urate clearance returned to normal within 8 days of refeeding with a normally purine-containing diet. Replacement of TPN by EN or vice versa, or substitution of glucose by fructose resulted in no change in hypouricemia. A 4-day oral supply of purines (125 mg/day) in EN patients was associated with a 53% rise (p less than 0.01) in serum urate. We conclude that prolonged, purine-free TPN and elemental EN are a new cause of marked hypouricemia which is mainly due to increased urate clearance, the mechanism of the latter is still poorly known, but is not related to extracellular volume expansion.     

Nutritional assessment and preliminary report on early support of the trauma patient

The high nitrogen demands imposed by severe trauma may quickly render the injured patient malnourished. Nutritional assessment of these patients is confused by tissue damage, shock, blood loss, operation, and anesthesia. Consequently, standard nutritional markers do not correlate well with immunocompetence and postoperative morbidity. For this reason we devised an abdominal trauma index (ATI) based on the anatomical severity of injury. The ATI is calculated by assigning a risk factor (1-5) to each organ injured and then multiplying this by a severity-of-injury estimate (1-5). The sum of the individual organ scores comprises the final ATI. The incidence of postlaparotomy complications is low (5%) with an ATI less than 15, intermediate (15%) with 15-25, and high (50%) with greater than 25. Having identified the high-risk trauma patient, we initiated a prospective randomized study to assess the cost-benefit of early nutritional support. Patients with an ATI greater than 15 were allocated to a control group (no supplemental nutrition during first five postoperative days) or enteral-fed group. The enteral group had a needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) placed at laparotomy. The constant infusion of an elemental diet (Vivonex HN) was begun at 18 hours postoperatively and advanced to 3,000 cc/day within 72 hours. To date 26 patients (14 control, 12 enteral) have been entered in this study. At one week, nitrogen balance in the control group (-12.9 to -11.1 g/day) continues to be negative compared to a positive trend (-12.2 to +3.3 g/day) in the fed group. In control patients serum albumin (3.54 +/- 0.16 to 3.19 +/- 0.15 g%) and transferrin (227 +/- 11 to 204 +/- 10 mg%) decrease while in the enteral patients albumin (3.27 +/- 0.11 to 3.34 +/- 0.15 g%) and transferrin (229 +/- 10 to 234 +/- 12 mg%) remain stable. Although the incidence of overall morbidity is similar, septic complications occurred in 29% (4/14) of the control group compared to none in the enteral group. Our experience suggests the following: (1) Anatomical severity of injury is a better predictor of postinjury septic morbidity than standard nutritional markers; (2) immediate postoperative feeding by NCJ is safe and feasible; and (3) early nutritional support decreases the incidence of septic complications in the severely injured patient.     

Nutritional assessment and preliminary report on early support of the trauma patient.

The high nitrogen demands imposed by severe trauma may quickly render the injured patient malnourished. Nutritional assessment of these patients is confused by tissue damage, shock, blood loss, operation, and anesthesia. Consequently, standard nutritional markers do not correlate well with immunocompetence and postoperative morbidity. For this reason we devised an abdominal trauma index (ATI) based on the anatomical severity of injury. The ATI is calculated by assigning a risk factor (1-5) to each organ injured and then multiplying this by a severity-of-injury estimate (1-5). The sum of the individual organ scores comprises the final ATI. The incidence of postlaparotomy complications is low (5%) with an ATI less than 15, intermediate (15%) with 15-25, and high (50%) with greater than 25. Having identified the high-risk trauma patient, we initiated a prospective randomized study to assess the cost-benefit of early nutritional support. Patients with an ATI greater than 15 were allocated to a control group (no supplemental nutrition during first five postoperative days) or enteral-fed group. The enteral group had a needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) placed at laparotomy. The constant infusion of an elemental diet (Vivonex HN) was begun at 18 hours postoperatively and advanced to 3,000 cc/day within 72 hours. To date 26 patients (14 control, 12 enteral) have been entered in this study. At one week, nitrogen balance in the control group (?12.9 to -11.1 g/day) continues to be negative compared to a positive trend (?12.2 to +3.3 g/day) in the fed group. In control patients serum albumin (3.54 +/? 0.16 to 3.19 +/? 0.15 g%) and transferrin (227 +/? 11 to 204 +/? 10 mg%) decrease while in the enteral patients albumin (3.27 +/? 0.11 to 3.34 +/? 0.15 g%) and transferrin (229 +/? 10 to 234 +/? 12 mg%) remain stable. Although the incidence of overall morbidity is similar, septic complications occurred in 29% (4/14) of the control group compared to none in the enteral group. Our experience suggests the following: (1) Anatomical severity of injury is a better predictor of postinjury septic morbidity than standard nutritional markers; (2) immediate postoperative feeding by NCJ is safe and feasible; and (3) early nutritional support decreases the incidence of septic complications in the severely injured patient.     

老年胃肿瘤病人术后早期肠内营养的应用

目的:探讨早期肠内营养对改善老年胃肿瘤病人术后的营养免疫状况及减少并发症的作用.方法:将84例老年胃肿瘤病人随机分为肠内营养(EN)组及肠外营养(PN)组,于术后24 h开始予以相同热量及氮量营养支持,分别观察营养支持前后的营养和免疫指标及术后并发症.结果:两组的营养及免疫指标于营养支持后明显改善(P＜0.05),免疫指标EN组较PN组明显提高(P＜0.05);EN组与PN组相比,明显促进病人术后胃肠道功能恢复,减少并发症的发生及住院费用.结论:老年胃肿瘤病人术后早期肠内营养是一种安全、有效、简便、经济和理想的营养治疗方法.     

Impact of enteral and parenteral nutrition on hepatic and muscle glucose metabolism

Liver and muscle metabolism were assessed in dogs adapted to long-term total parenteral (TPN) and enteral (TEN) nutrition. Studies were done in 13 conscious long-term catheterized dogs in which sampling (artery, portal and hepatic vein, and iliac vein), infusion catheters (inferior vena cava, duodenum), and transonic flow probes (hepatic artery, portal vein, and iliac artery) were implanted. Fourteen days after surgery dogs were grouped to receive TPN or TEN. After 5 days of TPN/TEN, substrate balances across the liver and limb were assessed. The liver was a marked net consumer of glucose in both groups (23.6 +/- 3.3 vs 22.6 +/- 2.8 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1), TPN vs TEN) despite near normoglycemia (6.5 +/- 0.3 vs 6.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/L). Arterial insulin levels were higher during TEN (96 +/- 6 vs 144 +/- 30 pmol/L; p < .05). The majority (79 +/- 13 vs 76% +/- 7%) of the glucose taken up by the liver was released as lactate. Despite higher insulin levels during TEN the nonsplanchnic tissues consumed a lessor quantity of glucose (25.9 +/- 3.3 vs 16.1 +/- 3.9 micro x mol x kg(-1) x min(-1)). In summary, the liver undergoes a profound adaptation to TPN and TEN making it a major site of glucose uptake and conversion to lactate irrespective of the route of nutrient delivery. However, the insulin requirements are higher with TEN possibly secondary to impaired peripheral glucose removal.     

Ambulatory home total parenteral nutrition

Ambulatory total parenteral nutrition (TPN) at home was used in 85 patients within a 6-yr period. Indications include severe malabsorption, fistulas, anorexia nervosa, and malignancies. The median duration of home TPN (HPN) was 67 days (range: 30-4,155 days). HPN duration for patients with benign diseases was longer [357.12 days (range: 30-4,155 days)] than for cancer patients [93.54 days (range: 30-421 days)]. Under HPN, patients gained a good nutritional status with an increase of total protein (p less than 0.001) and serum albumin levels (p less than 0.001). Weight gain was also significant (p less than 0.001). The rehospitalization rate was low (7.8%), but it was higher when HPN lasted for more than 3 months (10.87% +/- 1.58%) compared with short-term HPN (5.69% +/- 1.25%). Metabolic complications were unusual, and rehospitalization was related to the oncological treatment and/or infectious complications. Therefore, ambulatory HPN is a nutritional support that can significantly improve the life of patients with alimentary failure. Moreover, HPN allows significant cost savings compared to the alternative of prolonged hospitalization.