ESPEN guideline on chronic intestinal failure in adults - Update 2023

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In 2016, ESPEN published the guideline for Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) in adults. An updated version of ESPEN guidelines on CIF due to benign disease in adults was devised in order to incorporate new evidence since the publication of the previous ESPEN guidelines.

METHODS

The grading system of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was used to grade the literature. Recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence available as A (strong), B (conditional), 0 (weak) and Good practice points (GPP). The recommendations of the 2016 guideline (graded using the GRADE system) which were still valid, because no studies supporting an update were retrieved, were reworded and re-graded accordingly.

RESULTS

The recommendations of the 2016 guideline were reviewed, particularly focusing on definitions, and new chapters were included to devise recommendations on IF centers, chronic enterocutaneous fistulas, costs of IF, caring for CIF patients during pregnancy, transition of patients from pediatric to adult centers. The new guideline consist of 149 recommendations and 16 statements which were voted for consensus by ESPEN members, online in July 2022 and at conference during the annual Congress in September 2022. The Grade of recommendation is GPP for 96 (64.4%) of the recommendations, 0 for 29 (19.5%), B for 19 (12.7%), and A for only five (3.4%). The grade of consensus is "strong consensus" for 148 (99.3%) and "consensus" for one (0.7%) recommendation. The grade of consensus for the statements is "strong consensus" for 14 (87.5%) and "consensus" for two (12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

It is confirmed that CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. Most of the recommendations were graded as GPP, but almost all received a strong consensus.

ESPEN micronutrient guideline

BACKGROUND

Trace elements and vitamins, named together micronutrients (MNs), are essential for human metabolism. Recent research has shown the importance of MNs in common pathologies, with significant deficiencies impacting the outcome.

OBJECTIVE

This guideline aims to provide information for daily clinical nutrition practice regarding assessment of MN status, monitoring, and prescription. It proposes a consensus terminology, since many words are used imprecisely, resulting in confusion. This is particularly true for the words "deficiency", "repletion", "complement", and "supplement".

METHODS

The expert group attempted to apply the 2015 standard operating procedures (SOP) for ESPEN which focuses on disease. However, this approach could not be applied due to the multiple diseases requiring clinical nutrition resulting in one text for each MN, rather than for diseases. An extensive search of the literature was conducted in the databases Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. The search focused on physiological data, historical evidence (published before PubMed release in 1996), and observational and/or randomized trials. For each MN, the main functions, optimal analytical methods, impact of inflammation, potential toxicity, and provision during enteral or parenteral nutrition were addressed. The SOP wording was applied for strength of recommendations.

RESULTS

There was a limited number of interventional trials, preventing meta-analysis and leading to a low level of evidence. The recommendations underwent a consensus process, which resulted in a percentage of agreement (%): strong consensus required of >90% of votes. Altogether the guideline proposes sets of recommendations for 26 MNs, resulting in 170 single recommendations. Critical MNs were identified with deficiencies being present in numerous acute and chronic diseases. Monitoring and management strategies are proposed.

CONCLUSION

This guideline should enable addressing suboptimal and deficient status of a bundle of MNs in at-risk diseases. In particular, it offers practical advice on MN provision and monitoring during nutritional support.

Monitoring long-term parenteral nutrition

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review discusses the monitoring aimed at achieving good long-term outcomes in people dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

RECENT FINDINGS

There have been recent studies highlighting the importance of treating low bone mineral density in HPN-dependent patients, methods of screening for liver disease, assessment of quality of life (QoL) and the need for early assessment for intestinal transplantation and growth factor therapy.

SUMMARY

High-quality HPN services require expert multidisciplinary teams with a focus on strict aseptic catheter care protocols alongside regular monitoring and management of clinical, laboratory and patient-related factors. Areas that should be considered in the routine monitoring of HPN include regular laboratory measurements, QoL, assessment for intestinal failure-associated liver disease, treatment of metabolic bone disease and consideration of evolving treatments, alongside management of any underlying condition leading to intestinal failure.

ESPEN guidelines on chronic intestinal failure in adults

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) is the long-lasting reduction of gut function, below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth. CIF is the rarest organ failure. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is the primary treatment for CIF. No guidelines (GLs) have been developed that address the global management of CIF. These GLs have been devised to generate comprehensive recommendations for safe and effective management of adult patients with CIF.

METHODS

The GLs were developed by the Home Artificial Nutrition & Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of ESPEN. The GRADE system was used for assigning strength of evidence. Recommendations were discussed, submitted to Delphi rounds, and accepted in an online survey of ESPEN members.

RESULTS

The following topics were addressed: management of HPN; parenteral nutrition formulation; intestinal rehabilitation, medical therapies, and non-transplant surgery, for short bowel syndrome, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and radiation enteritis; intestinal transplantation; prevention/treatment of CVC-related infection, CVC-related occlusion/thrombosis; intestinal failure-associated liver disease, gallbladder sludge and stones, renal failure and metabolic bone disease. Literature search provided 623 full papers. Only 12% were controlled studies or meta-analyses. A total of 112 recommendations are given: grade of evidence, very low for 51%, low for 39%, moderate for 8%, and high for 2%; strength of recommendation: strong for 63%, weak for 37%.

CONCLUSIONS

CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for both the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. The rarity of the condition impairs the development of RCTs. As a consequence, most of the recommendations have a low or very low grade of evidence. However, two-thirds of the recommendations are considered strong. Specialized management and organization underpin these recommendations.

Key issues in addressing the clinical and humanistic burden of short bowel syndrome in the US

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this analysis was to provide a concise report of the literature on the burden of intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF) in adults, focused on clinical and humanistic issues important to clinicians and payers.

SCOPE

A literature search was performed using the National Library of Medicine PubMed database ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed ) with the search term 'short bowel syndrome' limited to adult populations and English-language reports published from January 1, 1965, to January 18, 2013. Citations were assessed for relevance and excluded articles focused on single case studies, colon fermentation, absorption of medications with PN/IV, surgical technique, mesenteric artery complications/surgery, and transplantation focus. Additional hand searches were performed using the terms 'short bowel syndrome' AND 'cost', and 'home parenteral nutrition' AND 'cost', along with the exclusion criteria described above.

FINDINGS

Despite advances in management in recent decades, SBS-IF continues to carry a high burden of morbidity and mortality. In the absence of sufficient intestinal adaptation following resection, many patients remain dependent on long-term parenteral nutrition and/or intravenous fluids (PN/IV). Although potentially life saving, PN/IV is costly, invasive, and associated with numerous complications and deleterious effects on health and quality of life. Surgical interventions, especially intestinal transplantation, are costly and are associated with substantial morbidity and high mortality. New therapies, which show promise in promoting intestinal rehabilitation and reducing dependence on PN/IV therapy, are the subject of active research.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the available literature suggests that although SBS-IF affects a relatively small population, the clinical and humanistic burden is significant, and there is an unmet need for effective therapeutic options that target the underlying problem of inadequate absorptive capacity of the remaining intestine. Consequently, many patients with SBS-IF remain dependent on long-term PN/IV support, adding to the burden imposed by the underlying disorder.