Parenteral Nutrition in the Pediatric Oncologic Population: Are There Any Sex Differences?

Gender-based medicine is attracting increasing interest every day, but studies on pediatric populations are still limited. In this setting, sex differences among patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have not been previously reported. This study investigated the presence of sex differences in parenteral nutrition composition and outcomes among a cohort of pediatric patients admitted at the Oncohematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health "Burlo Garofolo" of Trieste, Italy. For all 145 recruited patients (87 males, 58 females), the following data were collected: age, sex, volume and duration of TPN, macro- and micronutrient composition of TPN bags, electrolytic or blood gases imbalance, glycolipid alterations, liver damage during TPN, and the incidence of sepsis and thrombosis. The analysis showed that females required higher daily phosphate intake (p = 0.054) and essential amino acid supplementation (p = 0.07), while males had a higher incidence of hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05) and cholestasis. A higher incidence of sepsis was found in the non-transplanted male population (p < 0.05). No significant differences were appreciable in other analyzed variables. This study aims to create a basis for future gender-based nutritional recommendations in the pediatric field.

Parenteral Nutrition Overview

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life-saving intervention for patients where oral or enteral nutrition (EN) cannot be achieved or is not acceptable. The essential components of PN are carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, electrolytes and water. PN should be provided via a central line because of its hypertonicity. However, peripheral PN (with lower nutrient content and larger volume) can be administered via an appropriate non-central line. There are alternatives for the compounding process also, including hospital pharmacy compounded bags and commercial multichamber bags. PN is a costly therapy and has been associated with complications. Metabolic complications related to macro and micronutrient disturbances, such as hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and electrolyte imbalance, may occur at any time during PN therapy, as well as infectious complications, mostly related to venous access. Long-term complications, such as hepatobiliary and bone disease are associated with longer PN therapy and home-PN. To prevent and mitigate potential complications, the optimal monitoring and early management of imbalances is required. PN should be prescribed for malnourished patients or high-risk patients with malnutrition where the feasibility of full EN is in question. Several factors should be considered when providing PN, including timing of initiation, clinical status, and risk of complications.

Use of Intravenous Lipid Emulsions With Parenteral Nutrition: Practical Handling Aspects

A number of topics important to the handling of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) were discussed at the international summit. ILE handling includes the preparation and the administration steps in the typical use of parenteral nutrition (PN). The discussion and consensus statements addressed several issues, including standardization of the PN process, use of commercially available multi-chamber PN or compounded PN bags, the supervision by a pharmacist with expertise, limiting ILE repackaging, and infusion duration.

[Research advances in nutritional support for critically ill children]

Most critically ill children are in a state of serious stress and tend to develop malnutrition, which may reduce the body's ability to fight against diseases and repair damaged tissues and thus aggravate their conditions. Reasonable and effective nutritional support for critically ill children can improve their nutritional status and prognosis, and so it is necessary to offer nutritional support for critically ill children. This article reviews the research on nutritional support for critically ill children and the current status of clinical application. It also introduces the main methods for nutritional support, including enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition, and elaborates on the new methods for nutritional support, such as early enteral nutrition, enteral immunonutrition, and supplementary parenteral nutrition, in order to provide a reference for nutritional support for critically ill children.

Metabolic support challenges with obesity during critical illness

Adiposity-based chronic disease, critical illness, and nutrition therapy increase the risk for overfeeding and worsened nutritional and clinical outcomes. Hypocaloric, high-protein nutrition therapy provides critically ill obese patients the opportunity to achieve net protein anabolism with a reduced risk for overfeeding-related complications. The intent of this review is to discuss the impact of obesity on clinical outcomes, describe the consequences of obesity that increase complications associated with nutrition therapy, provide the framework to develop a hypocaloric, high-protein regimen, review the scientific evidence to support this mode of therapy, and discuss its limitations. Practical suggestions for patient monitoring are also provided.

Dispelling myths about intravenous fish oil-based lipid emulsions: a clinical perspective

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intravenous lipid emulsions (IVLEs) are an essential component of parenteral nutrition. With the recent incorporation of new lipid emulsions into the Canadian and American market, the clinician responsible for prescribing these lipids should be educated regarding the different fatty acid (FA) profiles of these lipids, as well as their metabolic and functional effects.

RECENT FINDINGS

New IVLEs contain a mix of soybean oil and olive oil, or a mix of soybean oil, coconut oil, olive oil and fish oil. These new lipid emulsions provide less essential fatty acids (FAs) (linoleic and alpha linolenic acids) than in pure soybean oil, yet incorporation of fish oil into an IVLE may decrease the amount of essential FAs required. Fish oil is a treatment for hypertriglyceridemia, and therefore, IVLEs that include fish oil may decrease serum triglycerides. Historical perspective is that fish oil can be associated with increased bleeding time. Evidence suggests that there is no association between fish oil and increased bleeding in patients, even those who are using anticoagulants. New IVLEs provide less vitamin K than soybean oil alone. Patients, or the parenteral nutrition solutions that include these new IVLEs should be supplemented with vitamin K.

SUMMARY

Canadian and American Guidelines for IVLEs were based on soybean oil. Current practice should be tailored to which IVLE is being prescribed.