Neurological disorders and small bowel dysmotility.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Small bowel dysmotility is common in the context of neurological disorders. Overlooking it can have an adverse impact on patient's quality of life and neurological outcomes. This review focuses on describing the mechanisms and effects of enteric dysmotility in neurological patients and providing treatment options. RECENT FINDINGS: Small bowel dysmotility is prevalent among neurological patients. The definition and diagnosis of small bowel dysmotility is a challenge; however, up to two-thirds of neurological patients may experience associated symptoms. Small bowel dysmotility can affect the absorption of nutrients and medication, impacts on social and professional function and can result in malnutrition and its associated morbidity and mortality. SUMMARY: Small bowel dysmotility due to a neuropathy can result from acute or chronic disorders in the central and peripheral nervous system and includes the cerebral cortex, brain stem, spinal cord, parasympathetic (vagus) and sympathetic nerves and the myenteric and submucosal plexuses of the intestine. Generalized muscle disorders can also cause an enteral myopathy. Generally, the disorders may be degenerative or inflammatory. Both enteric neuropathy and myopathy may cause symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea and can cause malnutrition. The symptoms need to be addressed in order of importance to the patient and malnutrition prevented or treated.

A new palatable oral rehydration solution: A randomised controlled cross-over study in patients with a high output stoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a jejunostomy or high output stoma may need a glucose-sodium oral rehydration solution drink to maintain hydration. These solutions are unpalatable and a new flavoured pre-packaged solution was developed. METHODS: After 8 h of fasting, 27 patients took 500 mL of the modified World Health Organization (WHO) cholera solution or Glucodrate® (Vitaflo) on two occasions in a cross-over random order and urine and stomal output was collected for 6 h. RESULTS: There was a small but significant difference in net sodium absorption in favour of the modified WHO cholera solution (10 ± 28 mmol modified WHO cholera solution vs. -1 ± 26 mmol Glucodrate®, p = 0.01). However the Glucodrate® was more palatable, with 24 patients (89%) preferring it to the modified WHO cholera solution (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Glucodrate® is a more palatable solution than the modified WHO cholera solution and is almost as effective and so can be used when patients find the modified WHO cholera solution unpalatable.

The management of adult patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility.

Adult patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility are not uncommon and can be difficult to manage. This guideline gives an outline of how to make the diagnosis. It discusses factors which contribute to or cause a picture of severe chronic intestinal dysmotility (eg, obstruction, functional gastrointestinal disorders, drugs, psychosocial issues and malnutrition). It gives management guidelines for patients with an enteric myopathy or neuropathy including the use of enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Mesenteric Infarction: Clinical Outcomes After Restoration of Bowel Continuity.

INTRODUCTION: Patients who have a bowel resection for mesenteric infarction may require parenteral nutrition (PN). This study primarily aimed to determine the aetiological factors for a mesenteric infarction and the effects of restoring bowel continuity on the long-term PN requirements. METHODS: A retrospective review of data on patients treated for mesenteric infarction from 2000 to 2010. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients (61 women, median age 54 years) were identified. Seventy-four (65%) had a superior mesenteric artery thromboembolism, 25 (22%) had a superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, and 4 (3%) had superior mesenteric artery stricture or spasm. Patients younger than 60 years most commonly had a clotting abnormality (n = 23/46, 50%), whereas older patients had a cardiological risk factor (n = 11/17, 65%). All patients with a jejunostomy required long-term PN. Fifty-seven (49%) patients had restoration of bowel continuity (colon brought into circuit). After this, PN was stopped within 1 year in 20 (35%), within 2 years in 29 (50%) patients and within 5 years in 44 (77%) patients (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A thrombotic tendency is the main etiological factor in most patients younger than 60 years. An anastomosis of the remaining jejunum to the colon can allow PN to be stopped.

First steps toward understanding the variability in acute pain service provision and the quality of pain relief in everyday practice across the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Pain management for patients in hospital is a major problem. There is significant variation in care provision. Evidence is needed about the ways in which acute pain services are organized in order to understand whether these are linked to important differences in patient outcomes. The National Inpatient Pain Study group is a voluntary collaborative venture of inpatient pain specialists in the United Kingdom who are working toward establishing a national prospective database of service provision and activity. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this article are (1) to describe current pain service provision and activity (2) to define and monitor the quality and side effects of the primary analgesic techniques, such as central neuraxial block or systemic analgesia, and identify variations in practice. METHODS: Phase 1: Surveys were conducted in two phases during 2010-2011. Information about the organization of services was collected from 121 centers via a live Website. Phase 2: The pilot clinical dataset was collected from 13 hospitals in 2011. RESULTS: Results indicated that staffing varied widely from one to nine nurses per hospital site. Twelve percent of hospitals did not routinely collect data. The main workload was orthopedic and general surgery based on data from 13 hospitals and 29,080 patients in 2011. Thirty-seven percent of patients reported a pain score of moderate to severe pain on the first assessment by the specialist pain team, and 21% reported severe pain. Nausea and vomiting was the most frequent adverse event reported. Sixty-nine major adverse events were logged, of which 64 documented respiratory depression (N = 29,080, 0.22%). CONCLUSIONS: Prospective longitudinal data has the potential to improve our understanding of variation in process and outcome measures and establish future research priorities.

Predictors for developing intestinal failure in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intestinal failure (IF) is a rare but devastating complication of Crohn's disease (CD). The clinical and surgical factors that predispose to IF are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to define clinical factors that predispose to IF. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using consecutive CD patients with IF who were identified from a prospective database. Local population-based controls were selected with which to compare demographic, phenotypic, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-two CD patients requiring long-term intravenous fluids or nutrition were studied. Diagnosis at age 16 years or less (P = 0.01) and a family history of inflammatory bowel disease (P = 0.02) were associated with a significantly higher risk for developing IF. Among the IF group, 53% had perioperative complications from intestinal resections contributing to long-term IF. Furthermore, these patients had more abdominal surgeries (P = 0.05) and stricturing disease was less common than in patients with primary active CD (P = 0.01). IF due to primary active CD was associated with penetrating behavior (P = 0.02) and early age at first surgery (P = 0.004). The need for intravenous nutrition as opposed to intravenous fluids correlated inversely with small intestine length (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CD resulting in IF relates to earlier age at diagnosis, family history of inflammatory bowel disease, stricturing disease, younger age at first surgery, and operative complications. These factors deserve consideration when planning therapy for CD patients.

How to manage a high-output stoma.

A high-output stoma (HOS) or fistula is when small bowel output causes water, sodium and often magnesium depletion. This tends to occur when the output is >1.5 -2.0 L/24 hours though varies according to the amount of food/drink taken orally. An HOS occurs in up to 31% of small bowel stomas. A high-output enterocutaneous fistula may, if from the proximal small bowel, behave in the same way and its fluid management will be the same as for an HOS. The clinical assessment consists of excluding causes other than a short bowel and treating them (especially partial or intermittent obstruction). A contrast follow through study gives an approximate measurement of residual small intestinal length (if not known from surgery) and may show the quality of the remaining small bowel. If HOS is due to a short bowel, the first step is to rehydrate the patient so stopping severe thirst. When thirst has resolved and renal function returned to normal, oral hypotonic fluid is restricted and a glucose-saline solution is sipped. Medication to slow transit (loperamide often in high dose) or to reduce secretions (omeprazole for gastric acid) may be helpful. Subcutaneous fluid (usually saline with added magnesium) may be given before intravenous fluids though can take 10-12 hours to infuse. Generally parenteral support is needed when less than 100 cm of functioning jejunum remains. If there is defunctioned bowel in situ, consideration should be given to bringing it back into continuity.

British Intestinal Failure Alliance (BIFA) guidance - haematological and biochemical monitoring of adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is necessary for patients with prolonged intestinal failure which can be secondary to a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms or surgical resection. HPN is needed to supply micronutrients, macronutrients and water to reduce morbidity and mortality and to maximise the patient's quality of life. HPN requires close monitoring by a dedicated multidisciplinary team and is vital to minimise complications; both catheter related and metabolic. A regular comprehensive review is required including history, examination including anthropometry and blood testing. The focus of this review is on the monitoring of haematological and biochemical parameters. There is a paucity of evidence-based literature on the biochemical monitoring of HPN and existing guidance is sourced mostly on expert opinion and lower grade studies. Sources offering guidance on the frequency of biochemical monitoring for the stable adult HPN patient are the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AuSPEN). The aim of this work is to review and collate this existing guidance into one clear and concise review. It is recommended that biochemical parameters are checked at baseline, thereafter more frequently if concerns arise and less frequently when the patient's condition is stable, as assessed by the multidisciplinary team with expertise in HPN.

Outcome of adult patients receiving parenteral support at home: 36 years' experience at a tertiary referral centre.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with intestinal failure often need long-term home parenteral support (PS). We aimed to determine how the underlying diagnosis, complications and survival had changed over the last 36 years in the UK's largest IF centre. METHODS: 978 adult home PS patient records were analysed from January 1979 until October 2016. The age, sex, underlying aetiology, complications and survival was compared over 5-year periods. RESULTS: Pre-1990 to 2011-2016, numbers increased from 29 to 451, the mean age of patients increased from 31 ± 16.5 to 52 ± 17.6 years. The percentage of patients with IF due to surgical complications increased (3.4%-28.8%, p < 0.001)), while those with inflammatory bowel disease decreased (37.9%-22.6%, p < 0.001). Complication of home PS reduced: catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSI) 71.4% to 42,2%, CVC thrombosis 34.5%-5.3%. Intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFLAD) 10.3%-1.8%. Patients with dysmotility, scleroderma and a congenital aetiology had the highest incidence of CRBSI and CVC Thrombosis. Overall survival was greater pre-1995 [HR 0.2-0.4 (p = 0.02)] most likely associated with an increase in mean age. Survival for patients without malignancy was 90%, 66%, 55%, 45%, 33% and 25% at 1,5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a relationship between survival and age of starting home PS; type of home PS; presence or absence of the colon in continuity; and underlying aetiology. CONCLUSION: Demand for home PS is increasing in particular for advanced malignancy, post-surgical complications and older more co-morbid patients. Complications of home PS are reducing over the last 30 years and 10-year survival for non-malignant aetiologies improving. Survival and changes in aetiology in intestinal failure.

Supporting people who have eating and drinking difficulties.

Eating and drinking are essential for maintenance of nutrition and hydration, but are also important for pleasure and social interactions. The ability to eat and drink hinges on a complex and coordinated system, resulting in significant potential for things to go wrong.The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published updated guidance on how to support people who have eating and drinking difficulties, particularly towards the end of life.Decisions about nutrition and hydration and when to start, continue or stop treatment are some of the most challenging to make in medical practice. The newly updated guidance aims to support healthcare professionals to work together with patients, their families and carers to make decisions around nutrition and hydration that are in the best interests of the patient. It covers the factors affecting our ability to eat and drink, strategies to support oral nutrition and hydration, techniques of clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration, and the legal and ethical framework to guide decisions about giving and withholding treatment, emphasising the two key concepts of capacity and best interests.This article aims to provide an executive summary of the guidance.

Refeeding syndrome : physiological background and practical management.

Refeeding problems have been recognised since the the liberation of starved communities under siege. The main clinical problems may relate to hypophosphataemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypokalaemia with a risk of sudden death; thiamine deficiency with the risk of Wernike's encephalopathy/Korsakoff psychosis and sodium/water retention. The problems are greatest with oral/enteral feeding and especially with carbohydrate due to it increasing plasma insulin and thus glucose entry into cells. It is difficult to predict patients at risk of refeeding problems so there must be a high clinical suspicion on refeeding any malnourished patient (including any who have had no or very little nutrition for over 5 days). Generous vitamin and electrolyte supplementation may be given while monitoring closely and increasing the calorie intake reasonably rapidly from 10 to 20 kcal/kg/24 hours. Often patients in this category are not hungry, but over the course of a few days, the restoration of their appetite is an indication that the risks of refeeding have been managed and it is now safe to increase the feed aiming for repletion. If problems do occur, the feed should be slowed to the previous day's amount, reduced further or rarely stopped while fluid and electrolyte issues are corrected.

Diagnosis and management of catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients on home parenteral nutrition.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) commonly arise from a parenteral nutrition catheter hub. A target for a Nutrition Support Team is to have a CRBSI rate of less than 1 per 1000. The diagnosis of CRBSI is suspected clinically by a temperature shortly after setting up a feed, general malaise or raised blood inflammatory markers. It is confirmed by qualitative and quantitative blood cultures from the catheter and peripherally. Treatment of inpatients may involve central venous catheter removal and antibiotics for patients needing short-term parenteral nutrition, but catheter salvage is generally recommended for patients needing long-term parenteral nutrition, where appropriate.

Home parenteral nutrition and employment in patients with intestinal failure: Factors associated with return to employment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is provided to patients with intestinal failure (IF). HPN can however affect the patients' quality of life and ability to remain in employment. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HPN on employment and factors associated with the likelihood of maintaining or returning to employment while on HPN. METHODS: Patients with chronic IF were identified from a prospectively maintained IF Unit database. A structured questionnaire was designed to probe employment both before and after starting HPN, intention to work and social welfare status (benefits & pensions). RESULTS: A total of 196 (62.8% females, median age 53 years) patients participated in the study of which 184 (94%) patients were in full or part time employment before their illness. At the time of starting HPN, 102 (52%) patients had the desire to return to work with 19 (18%) and 48 (47%) patients returning to full time or part time employment respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the frequency of the HPN infusion per week (p = 0.045) and intention to work after starting HPN (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with returning to work. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on HPN can have their employment status affected. The number of days per week on HPN and the desire of the patient to return to employment are significantly associated with employment.

Epidermal growth factor enemas with oral mesalamine for mild-to-moderate left-sided ulcerative colitis or proctitis.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogenic peptide produced by salivary glands. We examined whether EGF enemas are an effective treatment for active left-sided ulcerative colitis and ulceration limited to the rectum (proctitis). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted at Leicester Royal Infirmary, 12 patients with mild-to-moderate left-sided ulcerative colitis received daily enemas of 5 microg of EGF in 100 ml of an inert carrier and 12 received daily enemas with carrier alone for 14 days. All also began to receive 1.2 g of oral mesalamine per day or had their dose increased by 1.2 g per day. Patients were assessed clinically at 0, 2, 4, and 12 weeks and by sigmoidoscopy and biopsy at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. The primary end point was disease remission (defined by a St. Marks score of 4 or less without sigmoidoscopic evidence of inflammation) at two weeks. Secondary end points were clinically significant improvements in disease activity (defined by a decrease of more than 3 points in the St. Marks score or the ulcerative colitis disease-activity index) at two and four weeks. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: After two weeks, 10 of the 12 patients given EGF enemas were in remission, as compared with 1 of 12 in the control group (83 percent vs. 8 percent, P<0.001). At the 2-week assessment, disease-activity scores, sigmoidoscopic score, and histologic scores were all significantly better in the EGF group than in the placebo group (P<0.01 for all comparisons), and this benefit was maintained at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary data suggesting that EGF enemas are an effective treatment for active left-sided ulcerative colitis.

Is rheumatoid arthritis a disease that starts in the intestine? A pilot study comparing an elemental diet with oral prednisolone.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study aimed to determine if an elemental diet could be used to treat patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and to compare its effect to that of oral prednisolone. METHODS: Thirty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to 2 weeks of treatment with an elemental diet (n = 21) or oral prednisolone 15 mg/day (n = 9). Assessments of duration of early morning stiffness (EMS), pain on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS), the Ritchie articular index (RAI), swollen joint score, the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire, global patient and physician assessment, body weight, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haemoglobin, were made at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. RESULTS: All clinical parameters improved in both groups (p<0.05) except the swollen joint score in the elemental diet group. An improvement of greater than 20% in EMS, VAS and RAI occurred in 72% of the elemental diet group and 78% of the prednisolone group. ESR, CRP and haemoglobin improved in the steroid group only (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An elemental diet for 2 weeks resulted in a clinical improvement in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, and was as effective as a course of oral prednisolone 15 mg daily in improving subjective clinical parameters. This study supports the concept that rheumatoid arthritis may be a reaction to a food antigen(s) and that the disease process starts within the intestine.

Spinal Infections Among Patients With Long-Term Central Venous Catheters for Home Parenteral Nutrition.

Spinal infections are a rare yet serious metastatic complication of bacteremia among patients with long-term central venous catheters (CVCs) for which clinicians must remain vigilant. We performed a retrospective review of all cases of spinal infection occurring in the context of a CVC for long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) managed in our department between January 2010 and October 2013, a cohort of 310 patients over this time period. Six patients were identified (mean age, 65 years; 5 male). One hundred percent of patients presented with spinal pain (5/6 cervical, 1/6 thoracic). Organisms were cultured from the CVC in 5 of 6 patients. In all cases, the white blood cell count was normal, and in 5 of 6, C-reactive protein was normal. All diagnoses were confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in 3 of 6 cases, an MRI was repeated (on the advice of neurosurgical colleagues) to confirm resolution of changes after a period of antimicrobial therapy. There was no clear correlation between duration of PN or number of days following CVC insertion and onset of infection. The CVC was replaced in 4 of 6 patients at the time of diagnosis, delayed removal in 1 of 6, and salvaged in the remaining case. Although rare, a high index of suspicion is needed in patients receiving long-term PN who present with spinal pain. Peripheral inflammatory markers may not be elevated. MRI should be performed and patients should be treated with antibiotics alongside involvement of local microbiology and neurosurgical teams. Multidisciplinary discussion on CVC salvage in these cases is important, especially in cases of challenging vascular anatomy.

Spinal Infections Among Patients With Long-Term Central Venous Catheters for Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Descriptive Case Series.

Spinal infections are a rare yet serious metastatic complication of bacteremia among patients with long-term central venous catheters (CVCs) for which clinicians must remain vigilant. We performed a retrospective review of all cases of spinal infection occurring in the context of a CVC for long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) managed in our department between January 2010 and October 2013, a cohort of 310 patients over this time period. Six patients were identified (mean age, 65 years; 5 male). One hundred percent of patients presented with spinal pain (5/6 cervical, 1/6 thoracic). Organisms were cultured from the CVC in 5 of 6 patients. In all cases, the white blood cell count was normal, and in 5 of 6, C-reactive protein was normal. All diagnoses were confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in 3 of 6 cases, an MRI was repeated (on the advice of neurosurgical colleagues) to confirm resolution of changes after a period of antimicrobial therapy. There was no clear correlation between duration of PN or number of days following CVC insertion and onset of infection. The CVC was replaced in 4 of 6 patients at the time of diagnosis, delayed removal in 1 of 6, and salvaged in the remaining case. Although rare, a high index of suspicion is needed in patients receiving long-term PN who present with spinal pain. Peripheral inflammatory markers may not be elevated. MRI should be performed and patients should be treated with antibiotics alongside involvement of local microbiology and neurosurgical teams. Multidisciplinary discussion on CVC salvage in these cases is important, especially in cases of challenging vascular anatomy.

High-output stoma after small-bowel resections for Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: A 56-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of Crohn's disease and multiple bowel resections resulting in a loop jejunostomy was referred to our Nutritional Unit from a neighboring district general hospital for further management. She was first seen in October 2001, and initial assessment indicated that she was malnourished with fluid depletion, evidenced by the high volume of stomal fluid produced. There had been no sudden change in her medication, her Crohn's disease was quiescent and there was no evidence of any intra-abdominal sepsis. Despite a high calorific intake through her diet, she continued to lose weight. INVESTIGATIONS: Serum urea and electrolytes; magnesium; C-reactive protein; full blood count; urinary spot sodium; anthropometric measurements. DIAGNOSIS: High-output stoma with malabsorption as a consequence of repeated small-bowel surgery. MANAGEMENT: The patient was treated with oral hypotonic fluid restriction (0.5 l/day), 2 l of oral glucose-saline solution per day, high-dose oral antimotility agents (loperamide and codeine phosphate), a proton-pump inhibitor (omeprazole) and oral magnesium replacement. A year later, the patient's loop jejunostomy was closed and an end ileostomy fashioned, bringing an additional 35 cm of small bowel into continuity; macronutrient absorption improved but her problem of dehydration was only slightly reduced. She was stabilized on a twice-weekly subcutaneous magnesium and saline infusion and daily oral 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol.

Cost savings of an adult hospital nutrition support team.

OBJECTIVES: A hospital-based nutrition support team (NST) may need to demonstrate cost savings and quality benefits. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether an NST could show tangible cost savings (equipment, investigations, and medication costs) from managing patients considered for parenteral nutrition (PN). Secondary aims related to the quality issues of placement of PN catheters, catheter-related sepsis (CRS), duration of parenteral nutrition, and mortality. METHODS: An NST was formed in 1999 and worked in all adult areas of a university hospital (Leicester Royal Infirmary). Comparative data about all patients given PN were collected for 2 consecutive years (a retrospective pre-NST year and a prospective NST year). RESULTS: In the pre-NST year there were 82 PN episodes (54 patients), 665 PN days, and a CRS rate of 71% (seven infections/100 PN days). In the NST year, there were 133 referrals for PN but only 78 PN episodes (75 patients, 59% of referrals), 752 PN days, and a decreased overall CRS rate of 29% (three infections/100 PN days, P < 0.05) but a rate of 7% (0.6 infection/100 PN days) in the final 3 mo of the NST year. Tangible cost savings for the NST year were derived from 55 avoided PN episodes (42741 pounds sterlings) and 35 avoided CRS episodes (7974 pounds sterlings). Thirty-nine percent of PN catheters were inserted by the NST with no insertion-related complications. Competency-based training of ward nursing staff decreased the CRS rate. Mean duration of PN increased from 8 to 10 d (P not significant). In-hospital mortality for patients who had PN was 23 of 54 (43%) in the pre-NST year compared with 18 of 75 (24%) in the NST year (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of PN days increased with an NST, tangible cost savings of 50715 pounds sterlings were demonstrated within the NST year by avoided PN episodes and a decreased incidence of CRS. These savings justify the salaries of a nutrition nurse specialist and a senior dietitian.