Parenteral nutrition in oncologic patients

: The aim of this work is to carry out a follow-up of oncological inpatients who received parenteral nutrition (PN). We analysed the connection between the clinical situations and the indication and type of PN administered. A retrospective review of oncological patients who received PN during 1996 was carried out. Age, sex, primary tumor, PN indication and compliance degree, nutritional evolution, different categories of nutritional intervention, characteristics of PN as well as related complications and connected with PN were analysed. 33 patients, 23 female and 10 male, between 20 and 82 years old, were studied. 39% received PN with intensive antineoplastic therapy; 55% received PN as supportive treatment in various clinical situations related to the tumor or with antineoplastic therapy; 6% received palliative PN. 25 patients received PN without lipids and 8 total PN. The mean duration of PN was 10 days. 17 patients received PN by peripheric venous route and 16 through central venous catheter. The PN was well tolerated. In conclusion, most patients (94%) complied with some of the criteria established for the PN indication. The biggest percentage of patients in treatment with PN were divided into two main groups: patients with intensive antineoplastic therapy and patients with gastrointestinal disfunction caused by tumor or antineoplastic therapy. The role of PN in oncological patients it is not defined yet. The incidence of complications due to PN was low and without clinical relevance.