Parenteral nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
Although there have been no fundamental changes in the nature and practice of parenteral nutrition during the review period, there have been important observations with respect to adjunctive hormonal manipulation and the recognition of new hazards that warrant review.


RESULTS
Papers summarized include those demonstrating benefit from addition of growth hormone, and of medium-chain triglycerides, and those indicating that there is no apparent aggravation to osteoporosis, even with long-term intravenous nutrition. General advice is given on the place for new interventions and avoidance of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The relative safety of long-term parenteral nutrition is reconfirmed. Interesting new manipulations of the hormonal and lipid milieu may prove to be important developments.
Forbes
Alastair
A
St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, UK. alastair.forbes@ic.ac.uk
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014280:Triglycerides; D013006:Growth Hormone