[Modular parenteral nutrition: a new concept?]. / Nutrición parenteral modular: un nuevo concepto?

INTRODUCTION: We may define Modular Parenteral Nutrition (MPN) as parenteral nutrition (PN) mixtures obtained from adding different macronutrients to standard formulations (SPN) both binary (amino acids and glucose) and ternary (amino acids, lipids, and glucose). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to demonstrate that PN formulations may be adapted to individual needs of each patient and workload may be reduced by using MPN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case-control retrospective study of PN prepared during the first semester of the years 1995, 2000, and 2005. PN are categorized in: standard (SPN) -given without manipulation-, individualized (IPN), and modular parenteral nutrition (MPN). The protocols are compared at the different periods, and the volume of transferred fluid is related with total prepared volume in order to calculate the workload. The Chi squared and student's t tests with a significance level of p < 0.05 are used. RESULTS: In 1995, virtually only individualized formulations were used. In the year 2000, SPN and MPN were introduced as maintenance formulas as well as those for moderate stress. Finally, in the year 2005, the modular concept has been introduced for severe stress and/or immunomodulatory formulas. As a result of these changes, we observe in the protocol a decrease in IPN due to progressive introduction of MPN. In 1995, MPN represented 2.6% of all elaborations, increasing up to 64.7% in 2000, and to 74.7% in 2005. This fact has resulted in a decrease in transferred volume through the volumetric elaboration system. In 1995, 87.3% of the total volume was transferred, in the year 2000 34.3%, and finally in 2005 only 20.6% (the differences between the three periods are statistically significant; p < 0.05). In the year 2005, 543 IPN were elaborated, of which 169 (31.1%) were for patients with liver encephalopathy or non-dialyzed acute renal failure. The following ingredients have been added to MPN during that same period: glutamine, fish oil lipid emulsions lipidicas, structured lipids, olive-pattern lipids, polyionic solutions, and specific micronutrients. DISCUSSION: MPN allows for adapting PN formulas to a wide range of clinical situations, although individualized formulations still are irreplaceable for some pathologies. The use of MPN is associated with a decrease in individualized formulas that reflects in lower workload.

[Quality of the home parenteral nutrition program: 14 years of experience at a general university hospital]. / Calidad del programa de nutrición parenteral a domicilio: 14 años de experiencia en un hospital general universitario.

The quality of home parenteral nutrition (NPD in its Spanish acronym) depends on the frequency and type of complication associated with NPD treatment and the likelihood of survival. The present study assesses the quality of the NPD programme in place in our hospital in terms of survival, infections and mechanical complications. A retrospective study was carried out into the clinical follow-up data of all the patients (n = 24) included in our NPD programme since its start in 1985 until 1998 (14 years). An estimate is made for: a) the annual index of infectious complications (IAC in its Spanish acronym), b) the annual index of mechanical complications (MAC in its Spanish acronym) and c) the likelihood of survival by means of the Kaplan-Meier method. The quality specifications adopted are those of the literature reflecting the current provision of NPD programmes and the survival values of patients undergoing dialysis for chronic kidney failure. The most frequent pathology in our context is benign (70.8%), distributed as follows: small bowel syndrome of ischaemic origin (45.8%), small bowel syndrome of non-ischaemic origin (12.5%) and idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (12.5%). The patients with benign pathologies present a higher survival rate than patients with neoplastic disease (95% in the fifth year of treatment versus 45% at twenty months), with a statistically significant difference. The annual index of infectious complications is 0.6 (median value of the 14 years studied). Similarly, the annual indices of obstructions and thromboses are 0.11 and 0.0095, respectively. In our opinion, the quality of the NPD programme in place at our hospital is highly satisfactory because both the survival rate and the annual indices of mechanical and infectious complications are acceptable with regard to the programmes in place in the international sphere. In addition, in terms of survival, NPD seems slightly more effective than dialysis for chronic kidney disease.

[Incidence and risk factors of mechanical complications in parenteral nutrition]. / Incidencia y factores de riesgo en las complicaciones mecánicas en nutrición parenteral.

The objective of the present study is to determine the incidence of mechanical complications in patients with parenteral nutrition in our hospital, and to study which factors associated with catheterization in these patients are related to the appearance of different types of mechanical complications. All the central venous catheters registered during the time period between 1988-1994 were included. For the statistical treatment 5 logistic multiple regression models were designed in function of the different types of mechanical complications studied (dependent variable) and in relation to the defined risk factors (independent variables). The difference was considered to be statistically significant when, for each variable, this is not 1 for the confidence interval. The understanding of the different risk factors associated with the appearance of mechanical complications allows a better level of clinical action in the prevention of these types of complications.

[The epidemiology of central venous catheterization (CVC) in parenteral nutrition. The clinical implications and factors that determine the selection of germs]. / Epidemiología de la cateterización venosa central (CVC) en nutrición parenteral. Implicaciones clínicas y factores que determinan la selección de gérmenes.

The objective of the study is, on one hand, to determine the etiology and the clinical implications as a function of the isolated germ, of central venous catheterization in patients with parenteral nutrition in our hospital, and on the other hand, to determine which factors are associated with the selection of germs of central venous catheterization in parenteral nutrition. For this we included venous catheters, colonized for 5 years, and with a study of the different segments (connection, insertion point, and tip). As a function of the appearance of associated clinical symptoms, of the results of the blood culture, and of the clinical evolution of the patient, the variables which determine the level of pathogenicity of the different groups of germs in the central venous catheterization, are defined; for the study of the factors associated with the selection of the different groups of germs, 8 variables were chosen. The data obtained are statistically treated, and the results are considered to be significant if p < 0.05. The understanding of the different factors associated with the selection of germs, and the level of clinical pathogenesis of the different groups, allows a better level of the clinical action in the prevention of the infection associated with the catheter.

[A practical nursing guide for the planning and evaluation of the care of the patient with domiciliary parenteral nutrition. The planning of patient care with DPN]. / Guía práctica de enfermería para la planificación y evaluación de los cuidados del paciente con nutrición parenteral domiciliaria. Planificación de cuidados del paciente con NPD.

We present a proposal for the planning of nursing care for the patient with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). In this proposal the problems, goals, and actions to be taken by the nurse are defined. In this working guide, it is explained what the diverse aspects are that the nurse taking care of a patient with HPN needs to know, as well as the care to be given and the evaluation of the same, in order to insure that the patient with HPN is given a good preparation in his self-care, giving the patient an acceptable degree of independence and quality of life, as well as a lower risk of complications.

[Description of the computer program used at the Hospital de Bellvitge for monitoring and control in the Parenteral Nutrition Unit]. / Descripción del programa informático utilizado en el Hospital de Bellvitge para el seguimiento y control de la Unidad de Nutrición Parenteral.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a computer program to control the Pharmacy Service Parenteral Nutrition Unit. The program's main feature is a broad menu of possibilities for the clinical monitoring of patients receiving PN. We explain its operation, potential and applications and give some practical examples of some of those applications.

[The selection of the indicators for a quality control policy in parenteral nutrition starting from clinical follow-up]. / Selección de indicadores para una política de control de calidad en nutrición parenteral a partir del seguimento clínico.

INTRODUCTION: the concept of quality is basic to any type of clinical/care activity and with parenteral nutrition (NP), the notion is of particular significance in the field of its clinical monitoring. The aim of this paper is to reveal the NP care level based on our experience in clinical monitoring in 1988, and to select the indicators to be evaluated for initiating NP quality control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis is made of the existing structure in our hospital, formed by the NP Unit and the NP and Enteral Nutrition Commission, which are subject to a policy of coordination in order to ensure their function. The process is divided into two aspects for the analysis - teaching and care. The clinical monitoring data of NP patients in 1988 were taken as reference in defining the indicators. RESULTS: The indices are presented which were obtained from the analysis of the data of a general nature, from an assessment of the degree of compliance with the procedure, and from the quantification of complications and the indicators elected as quality parameters. DISCUSSION: Although the clinical monitoring of the PN began with the general wish to evaluate different aspects associated with nutritional therapy, this focus later evolved toward the notion of quality. Not all the data gathered during the clinical monitoring can be taken as quality criteria: only those deemed to be more relevant, or of greater clinical significance, and which can be reliably measured, can be treated thus.

[Qualitative follow-up of parenteral nutrition. Results]. / Seguimiento cualitativo de la nutrición parenteral. Resultados.

The Bellvitge Hospital has a Parenteral Nutrition Unit which is centralized in the Pharmacy Department. Its mission is to prepare the nutritive mixtures for all patients who require them. Based on the diffusion of the nursing protocol (reviewed in 1986), one of the main objectives of this Unit is to define the problems arising during the administration of parenteral nutrition, and offer alternatives. Similarly, it is also necessary to offer regular information on the results of the follow-up, which can be used as a reference on a daily basis, and when compared with the quality level established, will permit us to determine where we are at all times, thus preventing us from falling into routines that will harm the service we offer.

[Parenteral nutrition protocol: information for nursing care]. / Protocolo de nutrición parenteral: información a la enfermería asistencial.

For a correct application of PN (parenteral nutrition) protocols, not only is it essential to centralize follow-up, but also to make this known among the nursing staff. With this purpose in mind, the PN Unit organized in-depth seminars on the different hospitalization areas, after previously preparing a questionnaire indicating the extent to which the protocol was known among the staff. A study of the results obtained with the questionnaire enabled us to evaluate the following: the technical difficulties involved in basic understanding of the PN field, an analysis of priorities and the establishing of reference points for later evaluations.