title: Evaluation of parenteral nutrition use in patients undergoing major upper gastro-intestinal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After major upper gastro-intestinal surgery, enteral feeding is often hampered. There is still no consensus on which route of nutrition is preferable in patients undergoing this type of surgery. Current ESPEN guidelines recommend parenteral nutrition in undernourished patients, if caloric requirements cannot be met orally/enterally within 7 days and enteral nutrition is contraindicated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current practice of systematic parenteral nutrition at the thoracic surgery ward of the University Hospitals Leuven was evaluated based on the ESPEN guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study included patients undergoing upper gastro-intestinal surgery and receiving postoperative parenteral nutrition. Parenteral nutrition use was considered appropriate when patients were undernourished and unable to obtain adequate caloric requirements by oral or enteral feeding within 7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five out of 35 patients were nutritionally at risk. In 9 of 25 patients, the indication for parenteral nutrition was considered justified. As the intestinal tract below the anastomosis site remains accessible in the total studied population, enteral nutrition might be an option. Unfortunately, an appropriate jejunostomy tube was not available at our institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In accordance to the ESPEN guidelines, enteral nutrition can replace parenteral nutrition in most thoracic surgery patients, but only if an appropriate enteral access is available.
authors: University Hospitals Leuven, Louvain, Belgium, barbara.deleenheer@uzleuven.be.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Deleenheer
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Declercq
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Van Veer
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Nafteux
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Spriet
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011184:Postoperative Period; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies