[Hypophosphoremia during mechanical ventilation for chronic obstructive bronchopathies]. / Hypophosphorémie au cours de la ventilation mécanique des bronchopathies chroniques obstructives.

Hypophosphoremia may interfere with respiratory function in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) through different mechanisms: muscular exhaustion and weakness. Accordingly, the frequency and magnitude of hypophosphoremia was studied in 36 consecutive patients with acute respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation. Initial phosphoremia was normal (1,32 +/- 0,12 mmol/l) but often and rapidly decreased in all patients after mechanical ventilation had been started (0,54 +/- 0,14 mmol/l after 24 h). After this, phosphoremia remained low, slowly increasing with continued enteral nutrition (2000 Kcal, 276 g of glucides, 33 mmol/l of phosphorus). Four patients had severe hypophosphoremia after 24 h of mechanical ventilation (less than 0,30 mmol/l). Phosphoremia returned to a normal level 36 h after extubation. Hypophosphoremia was closely linked to pH improvement (r = + 0,67, P less than 0,001) and was paralleled by a drop in phosphaturia, suggesting intra-cellular penetration of phosphorus.

[Parenteral feeding. Prevention of complications in adults during exclusive mid-term parenteral feeding]. / L'alimentation parentérale. Prophylaxie des complications chex l'adulte au cours de l'alimentation parentérale exclusive à moyen terme.

The benefits of parenteral feeding need no longer be emphasised. However, qualitative and quantitative food supplements raise a certain number of difficulties which should be better known. Infection is the most frequent complication. It may be avoided by strict aseptic precautions throughout parenteral feeding. Hypoglycemia is a major risk owing to the possible consequence. Hyperglycemia and its consequence of osmotic polyuria is more frequent and should be controlled to avoid loss of water and salt. Complications due to the use of lipid emulsions are exceptional when soya oil is used. Hypophosphoremia should be corrected by increasing phosphate intake. Hypocalcemia is common; it is often associated with hypoproteinemia and sometime a low calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency or a sudden increase in phosphate intake. Vitamin deficiencies, hypomagnesemia, and oligo-element deficiencies should be correcty by appropriate supplements.