Home parenteral nutrition in adults: new trends raise new questions

Impact of home parenteral nutrition on family members: A national multi-centre cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a necessary treatment for patients with chronic, type 3, intestinal failure (IF). HPN often requires lifestyle adaptations, which are likely to affect quality of life (QoL) in both patients and family members. The aim of this study was to identify the level of burden on family members who are involved with HPN care and to understand specific factors that contribute to any burden.

METHODS

Patients over the age of 18 and receiving HPN were identified in IF clinics from multiple centres across the U.K. Eligible patients were asked to complete the parenteral nutrition impact questionnaire (PNIQ) to assess their QoL, while family members were asked to complete the burden scale for family caregivers (BSFC). Logistical regression was undertaken giving adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

RESULTS

678 participants completed the survey representing 339 patients with their appointed family member. Mean PNIQ score was 11.53 (S.D. 5.5), representing a moderate impact of HPN on patients' QoL. On the BSFC scale, 23% of family members reported a moderate to very severe subjective burden indicating an increased risk of psychosomatic symptoms. After adjusting for age and gender, predictors of BSFC included: family members self-reported health status using the EuroQol visual analogue scale (aOR 19.91, 95% CI 1.69, 233.99, p = 0.017) and support received by health services (aOR = 5.83, 95% CI = 1.93, 17.56, p = 0.002). Employment status, disease type, number of nights on HPN and length of time on HPN were not associated with BSFC.

CONCLUSIONS

Family members with a poor health status or lack of support by health service were more likely to have a moderate to very severe subjective burden. Tailored support from the multi-professional IF team may reduce the burden experienced by family members of people dependent on HPN.

Etiology and epidemiology of catheter related bloodstream infections in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition in a gastromedical center at a tertiary hospital in denmark

We conducted a retrospective epidemiologic study of catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) from January 2002 to December 2005. Our results showed that coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) were the most prevalent pathogens (44.7% of all CRBSI episodes), followed by Enterobacteriaceae (33.2%). Prevalence for candidemia and Enterococcus bacteremia was relatively high (14.4% and 10.8%, respectively). Cefuroxime resistance was observed in 65.4% CoNS and 31.5% Enterobacteriaceae. Based on the results from the study, a new empiric antimicrobial treatment regiment was suggested.

Treatment of intestinal failure: home parenteral nutrition

Intestinal failure can result from surgical resection, obstruction, dysmotility, congenital deficiencies or disease-associated loss of absorption. Before the development of intravenous feeding in the late 1960s, the condition was fatal, but by the 1990s approximately 40,000 patients were being successfully managed on long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) annually in the US. Survival on HPN depends on the nature of the underlying medical condition: over 80% of Crohn's disease patients survive for 5 years, but only 20% of cancer patients survive for 1 year. Although a patient's nutritional status is easy to maintain, there are serious long-term complications that arise from bypassing the gut and infusing nutrients directly into the systemic circulation. Catheter sepsis occurs about once per year (range 0-12 times). Abnormalities in liver function tests are common, but end-stage liver disease is rare. Central venous thrombosis develops in nearly all patients after 5 years. Although approximately 80% of patients on HPN are completely rehabilitated at home, their quality of life is impaired by the perpetual dependence on nocturnal intravenous infusions (every 8-12 h). In conclusion, HPN has allowed patients with previously fatal intestinal failure to survive and lead relatively normal lives at home, but their quality of life remains impaired by the dependence on intravenous infusions and complications that progress with time.

Predictors of survival in terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition

Clinical, anthropometric, hematologic, and biochemical variables, evaluated immediately before starting nutritional treatment, were related to survival in 76 terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction receiving home parenteral nutrition. At baseline, abnormally low values were observed in the following percentages of patients: 40.8% for body mass index, 59.2% for serum albumin, 84.2% for hemoglobin, 48.7% for lymphocyte count, and 60% for serum cholesterol. Survival on home parenteral nutrition ranged between 6 and 301 d, with a median of 74 d. Hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum cholesterol were lower in patients with a survival of less than 3 mo. With regard to Karnofsky performance status, median survival times were 63 d for a score below or equal to 50 and 128 d for a score between 60 and 70. Albumin and a Karnofsky score above 50 (but not age, weight, body mass index, lymphocyte count, or cholesterol) emerged (with a positive sign) as predictors of survival. In conclusion, terminal-cancer patients with irreversible bowel obstruction are often malnourished, showing a high prevalence of anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Survival differs widely and can be predicted only to a limited extent from initial values of serum albumin and Karnofsky performance status.

Home artificial nutritional support in gastrointestinal disease

Recent studies in the area of home artificial nutrition have shown that the prevalence of home enteral and parenteral nutrition programmes is rising rapidly all over the world. Other features of the past few years are the shift from non-malignant towards malignant indications and the increasing number of geriatric patients.