Evaluation on the effectiveness of perioperative nutritional therapy.

In the last three decade very important advances in venous access, enteral feeding techniques and parenteral and enteral nutrient formulations have made it possible to provide sufficient nutritional support to almost all patients. The clinical nutritional therapy became a progressive medical subspecialty. Despite the widespread use of nutritional management of different patient groups, many fields of nutritional support remain controversial. The critical review of the current medical literature is necessary evaluating the effectiveness of nutritional support in the perioperative period. This document represents a critical review of the available literature and contains suggestions, recommendations for the clinical practice. The historical background and development of perioperative artificial nutritional therapy are cited. Whenever possible, prospective randomised clinical trials (PRCTs) are evaluated because this is the most reliable method for evaluating clinical efficacy of a treatment. The incidence of postoperative complications, the length of postoperative hospitalisation and the mortality are considered good general indicator of effectiveness of perioperative nutritional therapy.

[Artificial nutrition of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell syndrome)]. / Toxicus epidermalis necrolysisben (Lyell-szindróma) szenvedó beteg mesterséges táplálása.

The authors report the case of a 30-year-old man treated with toxic epidermal necrolysis. Toxic epidermal necrolysis was due to anticonvulsive drug treatment. The patient was admitted with denudated skin surface similar to second-degree burn that covered 90 per cent of the patient's body surface. The patient was isolated and treated, receiving sterile wound care, broad spectrum antibiotic and corticosteroid. Total parenteral nutrition was instituted until the 5th day of care because the patient was unable to take normal food. The energy intake reached 146 kJ/kg bodyweight containing 4 g/kg bodyweight carbohydrates and 2 g/kg bodyweight fat emulsion supplemented with 10-15 g of nitrogen per day. The enteral nutrition was commenced gradually with decreasing parenteral nutrition. The nutritive solutions were supplemented with ions, vitamins and trace elements. The patient left the intensive care unit after 23 days of care. The toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening dermatological disease and should be treated at intensive care unit. The early recognition of the disease, the intensive care and nutritional therapy may improve the survival of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Parenteral and enteral nutrition and the enterocutaneous fistula treatment. I. Investigations on fistula output, nutritional status complications.

Prospective evaluation were made of 45 patients with postoperative small bowel fistulas treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and enteral nutrition (EN) between 1971-1988. The administration of TPN in the early treatment of enteric fistulas decreased the mean fistula output significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) and provided an effective tool in the control of high-output fistulas. The electrolyte contents of different fistula secretions were unchanged and the losses through the fistulas depended on the daily output. In patients with high-output fistulas acid-base balance disturbances had to be corrected. When comparing two parenteral nutrition regimens (carbohydrate+amino acids /CH + AA/ versus carbohydrate + amino acids + fat /CH + AA + F/) both facilitated the reduction of fistula secretion (in high-output fistulas. CH + AA = -50.2%; CH + AA + F = -49%). Positive nitrogen balance was achieved in non septic patients after 13 days of treatment. Improvement of serum protein and albumin occurred by the time of fistula healing. In non surviving patients significant decrease in protein synthesis was observed. Out 7 of 75 central venous catheters yielded positive bacterial cultures (9.3%). In 5 patients autopsy proved generalized sepsis. The use of parenteral and enteral nutrition proved to be a powerful method for controlling the enterocutaneous fistulas and maintaining the nutritional integrity of patients.

Parenteral and enteral nutrition and the enterocutaneous fistula treatment. II. Factors influencing the outcome of treatment.

An 18-year review of 64 patients treated with 71 postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas of the stomach /4/, duodenum /21/, jejunum /9/ and ileum /37/ was carried out to identify the factors affecting morbidity and mortality. Age, localization, output, inflammatory or malignant bowel disease, nutritional status and associated sepsis were analysed. The administration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or/and enteral nutrition (EN) as adjuvant therapy in the management of gastrointestinal fistulas increased the fistula closure rate (64%) and decreased mortality (33%). In patients over 65 years a rise in mortality rate (69%) was found. TPN and EN support yielded the best results in duodenal and jejunal fistula patients (closure rate 83% and 71%; respectively). In patients with high-output fistulas, inflammatory bowel disease and malignancy good results could be achieved with nutritional treatment. The presence of malnutrition had an adverse effect on the outcome in the non-TPN group with a mortality rate of 49%. In 43 patients severe septic complications occurred and 21 died due to septic multiple organ failure proved by autopsy. The overall mortality rate was 39%. Timing of fistula surgery had little impact on the fistula closure rate, but better results were obtained when reconstructive surgery was deferred beyond 6 weeks from fistula onset. Mortality has decreased since 1980. While many factors influence the outcome of fistula disease, adequate antiseptic treatment is assumed of primary importance. The nutritional therapy facilitated the spontaneous fistula healing and allowed the elective intestinal reconstruction to be scheduled at an optimal time.

[Treatment of enterocutaneous small intestine fistula using parenteral nutrition therapy]. / Behandlung der enterokutanen Dünndarmfistel mit Hilfe der parenteralen Ernährungstherapie.

A retrospective and prospective analysis was carried out of 48 patients with 54 enterocutaneous small bowel fistulae. 31 patients received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) by 17 patients only the daily losses of fluids and electrolytes were covered. In 19 fistulae (39,5%) closed spontaneously (48,5% with TPN and 14,3% without TPN). 10 patients underwent surgery; 5 fistulae closed operatively. The efficacy of treatment of enterocutaneous fistulae was influenced by the location of fistula, by the daily output, by the septic complications and by the use of TPN. Total parenteral nutrition can be the primary treatment or an effective adjunct to supplement the surgical management of postoperative small bowel fistulae.