Vitamin C in Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Need for Monitoring.

To date, there are no recommendations about screening plasma vitamin C concentration and adjust its supplementation in patients on long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin C status and determine if a commercial multivitamin preparation (CMVP) containing 125 mg of vitamin C is sufficient in stable patients on HPN. All clinically stable patients receiving HPN or an intravenous fluid infusion at least two times per week for at least 6 months, hospitalized for nutritional assessment, were retrospectively included, for a total of 186 patients. We found that 29% of the patients had vitamin C insufficiency (i.e., <25 µmol/L). In univariate analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.002) and intake of only 125 mg of vitamin C (p = 0.001) were negatively associated with vitamin C levels, and duration of follow-up in our referral center (p = 0.009) was positively associated with vitamin C levels. In multivariate analysis, only CRP (p = 0.001) and intake of 125 mg of vitamin C (p < 0.0001) were independently associated with low plasma vitamin C concentration. Patients receiving only CMVP with a low plasma vitamin C level significantly received personal compounded HPN (p = 0.008) and presented an inflammatory syndrome (p = 0.002). Vitamin C insufficiency is frequent in individuals undergoing home parenteral nutrition; therefore, there is a need to monitor plasma vitamin C levels, especially in patients on HPN with an inflammatory syndrome and only on CMVP.

Estimación del coste de la nutrición parenteral domiciliaria en España / Cost analysis of home parenteral nutrition in Spain

Introducción: la nutrición parenteral domiciliaria (NPD) mejora la calidad de vida de los pacientes permitiéndoles recibir nutrición en su domicilio y facilitando su integración social y laboral. Objetivo: analizar el coste de la NPD en España. Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de los Registros de NPD en España (años 2007-2014), elaborados por el Grupo NADYA-SENPE. Se analizó la evolución de: pacientes que requerían NPD, episodios/paciente por los que se administró NPD, duración media de los episodios, vías de acceso y tasa de complicaciones. Se estimó el consumo y coste de la NPD. Los pacientes fueron agrupados según patología: benigna o maligna. Los costes directos (Euros, 2015) incluidos fueron: bolsas administradas, vías de acceso y complicaciones. Resultados: el número de pacientes que recibió NPD aumentó a lo largo de los años (2007: 133 pacientes; 2014: 220 pacientes). El número medio de episodios/paciente osciló entre 1-2 episodios/año y su duración media disminuyó (2007: 323 días; 2014: 202,8 días). Las vías de acceso más utilizadas fueron los catéteres tunelizados y las complicaciones sépticas fueron las más comunes. El coste directo anual medio por paciente se estimó en 8.393,30 Euros y 9.261,60 Euros para patología benigna y maligna, respectivamente. Considerando que, en 2014, 220 pacientes requirieron NPD, el coste anual fue 1.846.524,96 Euros (1.389.910,55 Euros debidos a la fórmula de NPD) y 2.037.551,90 Euros (1.580.937,50 Euros debidos a la fórmula de NPD) para patología benigna y maligna respectivamente. Conclusiones: estos resultados sirven de base para futuros análisis económicos de la NPD y para establecer estrategias de priorización eficiente de recursos disponibles (AU)

Introduction: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) improves quality of life, allowing patients to receive nutrition at home and providing a social and labor integration to these patients. Objective: To assess the direct costs of HPN in adult population in Spain. Methods: A literature review of the records of HPN in Spain, carry out by NADYA-SENPE Group (years 2007-2014), was performed. The analysis included the evolution of: patients requiring HPN, number of episodes/patient, mean duration of episodes, description of delivery routes and complications rate. HPN consumption and cost were estimated. Patients were grouped according to their pathological group: benign and malignant. Direct costs (Euros , 2015) included were: parenteral nutrition bags, delivery sets and costs due to complications. Results: The number of patients who receive HPN has increased over years (2007: 133 patients; 2014: 220 patients). The average number of episodes per patient ranged from 1-2 episodes per year. The average duration of those episodes decreased (2007: 323 days; 2014: 202.8 days). Tunneled catheters were the most used and septic complications were the most common. The average annual cost per patient was estimated at Euros 8,393.30 and Euros 9,261.60 for benign and malign disease respectively. Considering that 220 patients required HPN in 2014, an annual cost of Euros 1,846.524.96 (Euros 1,389,910.55 directly due to HPN) and Euros 2,037,551.90 (Euros 1,580,937.50 directly due to HPN) was estimated for patients with benign and malignant pathologies respectively. Conclusions: These results can be used to develop future economic evaluations on HPN and to establish effi cient prioritization strategies to allocate available resources (AU)

Pregnancy is possible on long-term home parenteral nutrition in patients with chronic intestinal failure: Results of a long term retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) improves survival and quality of life in patients with chronic intestinal failure (IF). Few cases of pregnancy on HPN have been published. The aim of this study was to report pregnancy cases on long-term HPN in benign IF. METHODS: This retrospective study included all pregnant patients on HPN from 4 HPN referral centers. Data on demographics, ongoing pathology, HPN type, maternal and newborn complications were collected. RESULTS: From 1984 to 2014, 21 pregnancies occurred in 15 patients (short bowel syndrome (n = 11), motility disorders (n = 3), mucosal disease (n = 1)) of whom 14 occurred after 2010. Median follow-up was 12 years. Median HPN duration before pregnancy was 8 years. HPN was adapted monthly during pregnancy, with close monitoring and supplementations. Energy intake was regularly increased and median maternal weight gain was 10 kg. Median age at the first pregnancy was 27 years. In 55% of cases, the newborn was preterm. Maternal complications occurred in 67% of cases (mainly due to underlying disease or HPN complications). There were 3 post-partum hemorrhages and 6 hypotrophic newborns. Eighteen infants were healthy and 2 chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) were suspected. CONCLUSION: Our series, the largest reported to date, shows that pregnancy is possible in HPN patients but the complication rate is high. A specific support is necessary, particularly in CIPO patients. As pregnancies have increased over the last 15 years, physicians practicing in HPN referral centers should be aware of the need for implementing a specific multidisciplinary monitoring in HPN patients considering pregnancy.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency and response to oral supplementation in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition.

UNLABELLED: Previous studies have suggested a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in long-term HPN patients. METHODS: A retrospective, institutional review board-approved study was performed on all adult patients followed by the Cleveland Clinic HPN program receiving HPN therapy >6 months between 1989 and 2013 with a 25-(OH) D3 level reported. Patients were categorized by serum vitamin D status as follows: sufficient, insufficient, and deficient with respective 25-(OH) D3 levels of ≥30 ng/mL, 20-30 ng/mL, and <20 ng/mL. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were categorized based on serum vitamin D status as follows: 35 (44.3%) deficient, 24 (30.4%) insufficient, and 20 (25.3%) sufficient. The mean age of the cohort at the initiation of HPN was 52.0 ± 12.7 years, and 26 (32.9%) were male. The median HPN duration was 39 months, and the most common indication was inflammatory bowel disease (36.7%). Most (82.3%) patients had at least 1 prescription of oral vitamin D supplement (50,000 International Units) during this time. History of jejunal resection (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-15.1; P = .002) and lack of oral vitamin D supplementation (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93; P = .038) were the strongest predictors of vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is common among patients receiving long-term HPN despite oral supplementation.

Preventing bloodstream infection in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.

Patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are at particularly high risk of meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). We developed a multidisciplinary enhanced care pathway encompassing a number of minimal cost interventions involving line/exit site care, training for staff and parents, multidisciplinary discharge planning, and monitoring compliance. Implementation reduced the mean rates of MSSA CRBSI (from 0.93, 95% CI 0.25-1.61, to 0.23, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.52, per 1000 parenteral nutrition [PN] days) and all-cause CRBSI (from 1.98, 95% CI 0.77-3.19, to 0.45, 95% CI 0.10-0.80, per 1000 PN days). A similar approach could be applied to preventing health care-associated infections in other complex, vulnerable patient groups.

Evaluation of factors associated with the nutritional mixture leading to liver complications in patients treated by means of parenteral nutrition at home.

UNLABELLED: The major problem of total parenteral treatment consists in the balancing of the source and dose of the nutritional mixture, so as to not deepen malnutrition with a positive impact on the patients' organism. The aim of the study was to evaluate selected factors that induce hepato-biliary complications in patients treated by means of parenteral nutrition at home. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study comprised 70 patients with biochemistry performed every three months. Considering statistical analysis patients were allocated to four groups, depending on the period of treatment. Group A analysis results were based on the activity of aminotransferases, group B on the activity of bilirubin. Both groups A and B were additionally divided into group I where we assigned normal values of control lab results, and group II with improper results after treatment. RESULTS: Differences between groups Ia vs IIa were presented on the basis of the daily supply of glucose: mean- 2.52 vs 3.49 g/kg (p=0.000003), glucose/lipids ratio: mean- 3.76 vs 4.90 g/kg (p=0.0001), daily non-protein energy: mean- 16.73 vs 21.06 kcal/kg (p=0.0001). Differences between groups Ib vs IIb were presented on the basis of the daily supply of glucose: mean- 2.76 vs 3.46 g/kg (p=0.0007), glucose/lipids ratio: mean- 3.98 vs 5.13 g/kg (p=0.01), daily non-protein energy: mean-17.96 vs 20.36 kcal/kg (p=0.04). Based on the above-mentioned analysis the main goal in the prevention of hepatic complications should lead to the reduction of the dose of glucose. Increased glucose supply leads to increased number of hepato-biliary complications. CONCLUSIONS: Based on obtained results we were able to conclude that in case of liver complications associated with parenteral nutrition, proper management consists in the modification of nutritional mixtures (reduction in the daily glucose supply and change in the proportions of extra-protein energy). Such management has the greatest clinical effect. When determining the composition of the nutritional mixture one should adjust the glucose supply, so as to offset both sources of extra-protein energy.

[Home-Based Parenteral Nutrition (HBPN)-associated hepatobiliary complications]. / Complicaciones hepatobiliares asociadas a la Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD).

Home-based parenteral nutrition (HBPN) allows recovering or maintaining the nutritional status of patients with chronic intestinal failure that cannot afford their nutritional requirements through the digestive route. Frequently, liver function impairments develop along the treatment, which in the most severe cases, and especially in premature and low-weight infants, may lead to an irreversible liver failure. The proper composition of the parenteral nutrition bag, avoiding an excess of energy intake, together with the use of new types of lipid emulsions (with lower content in -6 fatty acids and voided of phytosterols) as well as the use, although being minimal, of the enteral route, may contribute to a decrease in the occurrence of HBPN-associated liver disease. It is necessary to perform monthly clinical and biochemical checks to early detect liver function impairments in order to perform the appropriate changes in the treatment and assess the indication of a potential bowel transplant before the liver damage becomes irreversible.

Complicaciones hepatobiliares asociadas a la Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD) / Home-based parenteral nutrition (hbpn)-associated hepatobiliary complications

La Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD) permite recuperar o mantener el estado nutricional de los pacientes con insuficiencia intestinal crónica que no pueden cubrir sus requerimientos nutricionales por vía digestiva. Es frecuente que a lo largo del tratamiento aparezcan alteraciones de la función hepática que, en los casos más graves y sobretodo en niños prematuros y debajo peso, pueden condicionar un fallo hepático irreversible. La correcta composición de la bolsa de nutrición parenteral, evitando un excesivo aporte de energía, junto con el uso de nuevos tipos de emulsiones lipídicas (con menor contenido en ácidos grasos de la serie ω-6 y exentas de fitosteroles) así como la utilización, aunque sea mínima, de la vía digestiva pueden contribuir a disminuirla aparición de la hepatopatía asociada a la NPD. Es imprescindible realizar controles periódicos clínicos y analíticos para detectar precozmente las alteraciones de la función hepática con objeto de realizar los cambios adecuados en el tratamiento y valorar la indicación de un posible trasplante intestinal antes de que el fallo hepático sea irreversible (AU)

Home-based parenteral nutrition (HBPN) allows recovering or maintaining the nutritional status of patients with chronic intestinal failure that cannot afford their nutritional requirements through the digestive route. Frequently, liver function impairments develop along the treatment, which in the most severe cases, and especially in premature and low-weight infants, may lead to an irreversible liver failure. The proper composition of the parenteral nutrition bag, avoiding an excess of energy intake, together with the use of new types of lipid emulsions(with lower content in -6 fatty acids and voided of phytosterols) as well as the use, although being minimal,of the enteral route, may contribute to a decrease in the occurrence of HBPN-associated liver disease. It is necessary to perform monthly clinical and biochemical checks to early detect liver function impairments in order to perform the appropriate changes in the treatment and assess the indication of a potential bowel transplant before the liver damage becomes irreversible (AU)

Prevalence of liver complications in children receiving long-term parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The hepatic prognosis of long-term home total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-dependent children is poorly documented. The objective was to study outcome data in home TPN-dependent children and to describe precisely their liver biopsies in the attempt to analyze risk factors for biochemical and histological hepatic abnormalities. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Medical records of 42 children receiving home TPN for more than 2 years between January 1998 and December 2007 in a single approved home total parenteral center were reviewed. Hepatic biochemical abnormalities were analyzed. Hepatic biopsies were classified by two independent pathologists. RESULTS: Duration of TPN was 7.9±0.8 years (mean±s.e.m.), with an average age at onset of 1.5±0.5 years. A total of 24 patients (57%) developed biochemical liver abnormalities in an average of 2.9±0.4 years after starting TPN. Risk factors for biochemical abnormalities were younger age at TPN commencement, longer duration of TPN, higher rate of catheter-related infections and higher volume and energy content of TPN. Liver biopsies were carried out in 43% of patients (mean age 3.2±0.9 years). Almost all patients had fibrosis (94%). Risk factors were dependent on each histological abnormality: fibrosis was significantly associated with a shorter length of bowel and a longer duration of TPN; cholestasis correlated with a lower percentage of total parenteral energy intake due to lipids; and steatosis had no risk factor identified. CONCLUSION: Our study reports a high rate of histological liver abnormalities and analyzes risk factors in children who underwent very long-term home TPN.

Long-term home parenteral nutrition in children with chronic intestinal failure: A 15-year experience at a single Italian centre.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic intestinal failure is a condition causing severe impairment of intestinal functions; long-term total parenteral nutrition is required to provide adequate nutritional support. METHODS: This is a 15-year follow-up study of paediatric patients with intestinal failure receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were included in the study, all aged <16 years. Total parenteral nutrition and home parenteral nutrition were administered respectively to 100.97 and 85.20 patients-year. Today, 12 out of 36 patients are still on parenteral nutrition. A total of 99 central venous catheters were inserted, for mean 2.75 catheters/patient. The overall incidence rates of catheter-related complications was 1.79 per 1000 days-catheter for sepsis and 3.37 per 1000 days-catheter for mechanical complications. Two multivariate Cox-models have been used to examine the role of some predictors for septic or mechanical complications. The only risk factor for septic complications was the indication for parenteral nutrition, and the only predictor of mechanical complications was the insertion period. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience in the treatment of paediatric patients with gastrointestinal diseases confirms that long-term parenteral nutrition has become a safe and appropriate method in the treatment of severe chronic intestinal failure.

Canadian home total parenteral nutrition registry: preliminary data on the patient population.

BACKGROUND: Long-term administration of home total parenteral nutrition (HTPN) has permitted patients with chronic intestinal failure to survive for prolonged periods of time. However, HTPN is associated with numerous complications, all of which increase morbidity and mortality. In Canada, a comprehensive review of the HTPN population has never been performed. OBJECTIVES: To report on the demographics, current HTPN practice and related complications in the Canadian HTPN population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Five HTPN programs in Canada participated. Patients' data were entered by the programs' TPN team into a Web site-based registry. A unique confidential record was created for each patient. Data were then downloaded into a Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp, USA) spreadsheet and imported into SPSS (SPSS Inc, USA) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: One hundred fifty patients were entered into the registry (37.9% men and 62.1% women). The mean (+/- SD) age was 53.0+/-14 years and the duration requiring HTPN was 70.1+/-78.1 months. The mean body mass index before the onset of HTPN was 19.8+/-5.0 kg/m(2). The primary indication for HTPN was short bowel syndrome (60%) secondary to Crohn's disease (51.1%), followed by mesenteric ischemia (23.9%). COMPLICATIONS: over one year, 62.7% of patients were hospitalized at least once, with 44% of hospitalizations related to TPN. In addition, 28.6% of patients had at least one catheter sepsis (double-lumen more than single-lumen; P=0.025) and 50% had at least one catheter change. Abnormal liver enzymes were documented in 27.4% of patients and metabolic bone disease in 60% of patients, and the mean Karnofsky score was 63. CONCLUSIONS: In the present population sample, the data suggest that HTPN is associated with significant complications and health care utilization. These results support the use of a Canadian HTPN registry to better define the HTPN population, and to monitor complications for quality assurance and future research.

Prevalence of life-threatening complications in pediatric patients affected by intestinal failure.

Intestinal failure (IF) is defined as the reduction of functional gut mass necessary to maintain health and growth in children. Causes of IF include short bowel syndrome (SBS), neuromuscular intestinal disorders (NID), and severe protracted diarrhea (SPD). If patients require long-term parenteral nutrition (PN); they can now be discharged on home PN (HPN), thus improving their quality of life. Children requiring long-term PN are at high risk of developing life-threatening IF complications that hinder HPN, namely, IF associated liver disease (IFALD), catheter-related infections (CRI), and thrombosis. The goal of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence of life-threatening complications among IF patients according to the HPN indication. From January 1989 to May 2006, 60 IF patients (41 boys and 19 girls) underwent prolonged HPN. Total program duration was 46,391 days (127 total years, mean 2.1 years per patient). Indications for HPN were SBS in 36 cases, SPD in 19 cases, or NID in 5 cases. In our experience patients affected by SBS displayed a significantly higher prevalence of life-threatening complications than patients with other IF causes. Sixteen (27%) among 60 patients developed IFALD. CRI and thrombosis prevalence were 1.4/1000 central venous catheter (CVC) days and 0.2/1000 CVC days respectively. SBS seemed to lead to life-threatening complications more often than other HPN indications. SBS patients on long-term PN therefore require careful management to identify complications early, and they seem to be the candidates for early referral to small bowel transplantation centers.

Epidemiology of bloodstream infections in patients receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition.

GOALS: To describe the epidemiology and microbiologic characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN). BACKGROUND: Home TPN therapy has been reported as a risk factor for BSI. However, little knowledge exists regarding the epidemiology of BSIs in this patient group. STUDY: A descriptive, observational epidemiologic study of patients receiving long-term TPN from January 1981 to July 2005 was performed. Variables analyzed include age, gender, time of follow-up, number of BSIs, microbiologic characteristics, underlying disease necessitating long-term TPN, catheter type, complications related to TPN, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients receiving long-term TPN were evaluated. The most frequent indication for long-term TPN was ischemic bowel disease (25.5%). The mean duration of follow-up was 4.5 years. Thirty-eight patients (80.9%) developed 248 BSIs while receiving TPN. More than 1 BSI episode occurred in 78.9% of these patients, and 23.8% of BSI episodes were polymicrobial. The most prevalent pathogen was coagulase negative staphylococci (33.5%). The most frequent complication among patients with BSI was central venous thrombosis (44.7%). Five patients were intravenous drug users. There were 11 deaths among the patients on long-term TPN, 4 of these were related to infection and 4 were related to intravenous drug use. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of BSI is high, and a significant proportion of BSIs in long-term TPN patients are polymicrobial and due to multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi. Careful management of the infusion line is required and interventions are needed to reduce the risk of catheter-related infections in this population.

[From starving to life-threatening nutrition--the history of an intestinal pseudoobstruction]. / Vom Verhungern zur lebensbedrohlichen Ernährung--Kranken-Geschichte einer chronischen intestinalen Pseudoobstruktion.

It is the story of a 70-year-old lady, who suffered from chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction since her adolescence. In the early 90ies progressive cachexia developed. In 1994 parenteral nutrition was begun via a port-à-cath-system with good success in the first years. Later, various complications occurred: thrombotic events, several catheter-related infections with various bacterial strains, an endocarditis of the aortic valve, which was replaced by a bioprosthesis, and finally a relapsing endocarditis of this artificial valve with a life-threatening paravalvular abscess and regurgitation. She also survived this second heart surgery and is currently under parenteral nutrition again, with a more than uncertain future.

[Treatment of intestinal failure by total parenteral nutrition at home in children and adults]. / De behandeling van darmfalen met parenterale thuisvoeding bij kinderen en volwassenen.

Intestinal failure is characterised by inability of the intestine to absorb sufficient nutrients to maintain the integrity and function of the body. This can be caused by malabsorption due to too short an intestine or an abnormality of the mucosa, or by a severe motility disorder. In addition to dietary measures, the prescription of total parental nutrition (TPN) at home is sometimes necessary. This treatment is a burden on the patient and the risk of complications must be reduced to a minimum. The risks of long-term parenteral nutrition can be limited and the quality of the provision of services can be increased if the co-ordination is in the hands of a centre for home parenteral nutrition. In the Netherlands there are two centres for home-TPN: the St Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen and the University Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam. In both children and adults, the most common indications are the short bowel syndrome and motility disorders. However, the syndromes that cause this are clearly different in the different age groups. Parenteral nutrition can be given for long periods of time. A large variety of complications can occur, related especially to the equipment or the nutrients. When the nutrition is given via a central venous catheter, then sepsis is a serious and possibly life-threatening complication. In case of administration via an arteriovenous shunt, thrombosis of the shunt is the most frequent problem. If the treatment by means of home-TPN fails, then transplantation of the small intestine should be considered.

Should patients with advanced, incurable cancers ever be sent home with total parenteral nutrition? A single institution's 20-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) can be lifesaving and life sustaining for some patients. However, in patients with advanced, incurable cancer, its role is controversial. A retrospective study was conducted to explore whether home TPN was associated with long-term survival (>or=1 year) in patients with metastatic disease and to identify predictive factors to enable its judicious use. METHODS: The records of all adult patients with incurable cancer were identified between 1979 and 1999. Records were reviewed in depth for survival from TPN initiation to death and for a variety of demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were identified. Their median age was 56 years (range, 18-83 years), and 30 (58%) were women. Malignant diagnoses included carcinoid/islet cell tumor (n=10), ovarian carcinoma (n=6), amyloidosis/multiple myeloma (n=6), colorectal carcinoma (n=5), sarcoma (n=5), pancreatic carcinoma (n=4), gastric carcinoma (n=3), lymphoma (n=2), pseudomyxoma peritonei (n=2), and other (n=9). TPN was initiated for the following reasons (indications are not mutually exclusive): alimentary tract obstruction (n=20), short bowel syndrome/malabsorption (n=16), fistula (n=11), dysmotility (n=3), nausea/emesis (n=2), anorexia (n=2), and mucositis (n=1). The median time from initiation of TPN to death was 5 months (range, 1-154 months). Sixteen patients survived >or=1 year. TPN-related complications included 18 catheter infections (1 per 2.8 catheter-years), 4 thromboses, 3 pneumothoraces, and 2 episodes of TPN-related liver disease. Tumor grade, the interval between diagnosis of metastatic disease and initiation of TPN, the presence of prominent cancer symptoms, and the administration of cancer therapy after TPN were not associated in any way with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The initiation of home TPN can be associated with long-term survival in very select patients with incurable cancer, and complication rates with its use appear acceptable. However, the judicious use of home TPN in this setting requires careful clinical assessment on a patient-by-patient basis.

The routine microbiological screening of central venous catheters in home parenteral nutrition patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is a major complication for patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HTPN). Endoluminal sampling techniques allow the diagnosis of CRBSI without catheter removal and may allow the screening of asymptomatic patients. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, patients receiving HTPN were offered screening on a 3 monthly basis. All patients had tunnelled cuffed Hickman lines. All were asymptomatic at the time of screening, which took the form of either endoluminal brushing or quantitative cultures on through-line blood. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were suitable for inclusion within the study period (10 male, median age 51 (iqr 46-61)) years with 30 of these having a least one screening performed. Four had positive screening results and underwent appropriate treatment. Of the remainder, 12 presented with at least one clinical episode of CRBSI and 14 had neither clinical CRBSI nor a positive screening result. The combined clinical and screening CRBSI rate was 0.39 episodes per catheter year. CONCLUSION: Although routine microbiological catheter screening can detect subclinical infections in HTPN patients the positive rate is low with the majority of patients still presenting clinical. Identification of higher risk patients and appropriate alterations to screening frequency may improve its value further.

[Organization and coordination of long-term total parenteral nutrition at home in the course of rehabilitation]. / Hosszan tartó otthoni teljes parenterális táplálás megszervezése, koordinálása a rehabilitáció során.

UNLABELLED: At the rehabilitation hospital of Visegrád between 1996-2003 there were altogether 7 patients suffering from short bowel syndrome, 6 of them in the last 2 years. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate 2 cases of long-term total parental nutrition. One of the patients is a 60 year-old man, in whom gut resection has been performed because of acute arteria mesenterica superior occlusion. After gut resection 10 cm jejunum, a half colon transversum and the colon descendent were left. The central total parenteral nutrition has been going on for 365 days, for the last 255 days it has been performed at home: 2000 ml/day all-in-one nutrition solution + 500 ml oral high-fibre food preparation. At the beginning of the total parenteral nutrition the patient's weight was 64.5 kg (BMI: 23.5 kg/m2) which decreased to 51.5 kg (BMI: 18.5 kg/m2) owing to the reduction of the TPN to 1200 ml/day. This weight has been kept since then and the quality of life is satisfactory. Complication: increase of liver enzymes (GGT, ALP). The other patient is 48 years old with gut resection owing to art. mes. thrombosis. After gut resection 20 cm jejunum and the left side colon were left. The parenteral nutrition has been going on for 352 days (30 days were spent at home): 2000 ml all-in-one nutrition solution (the high-fibre oral nutrition solution was not tolerated in this case). The patient's weight is 54.5 kg (BMI: 18.33 kg/m2), ALP and GGT are getting back to normal. COMPLICATIONS: central venous tube sepsis which made it necessary to change the tube on several occasions.