Patients' and caregivers' perspective on challenges and outcomes with tube feeding: Analysis of home enteral nutrition survey data

BACKGROUND

Given the growing use of home enteral nutrition (HEN), assessing the experience of consumers and caregivers is crucial to understanding the real-world subjective and objective challenges of administering HEN.

METHODS

After obtaining institutional review board approval, a survey was distributed to HEN consumers and caregivers between January 16, 2020, and July 16, 2021. Data collected included information regarding demographics, primary diagnosis, tube and connectors, HEN regimen, and overall HEN experience.

RESULTS

A total of 884 individuals responded to the survey: 673 (76.1%) responses by caregivers and 211 (23.9%) responses by patients. The study cohort included 566 (64%) children and 318 (36%) adults. The leading primary diagnosis of participants was developmental delay and motility disorder for children and adults, respectively. Low-profile gastric tubes were the most used (75.7% of children and 30.3% of adults). Notably, legacy connectors were utilized for more patients (46.7% children, 52.6% adults) compared to ISO-80369-3 connectors (38.9% children, 29.7% adults). HEN complications were prevalent, including enteral tube site infections and other tube-related complications, including clogging and kinking.

CONCLUSION

This real-world data reveals that HEN complications remain prevalent. Additionally, despite introducing ISO-80369-3 connectors many years ago, most patients continue to use legacy tubes with a significant lack of knowledge about ISO-80369-3 connectors. The survey results guide HEN providers to focus on several areas to reduce complications.

A multi-national survey of experience and attitudes towards managing catheter related blood stream infections for home parenteral nutrition

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is the most common complication of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF). The aim of this study was to assess the broad range of practices of international multi-disciplinary teams involved in the care of this complication occurring in CIF patients.

DESIGN

An online questionnaire was designed and distributed to members of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and distributed to colleagues involved in managing patients with CIF.

RESULTS

A total of 47 responses were included from centers across 21 countries. The centers had been delivering HPN for a median 21 years (IQR 11-35) and were actively following a median 58 patients (27-120) per center for benign CIF in 80% of cases (67-95). Tunneled catheters were the most common type of central venous catheters (CVC), representing 70% (47-86) of all CVC in use. For the management of CRBSI, written procedures were provided in 87% of centers. First measures included simultaneous central and peripheral blood cultures (90%), stopping HPN infusion (74%), and administrating an antibiotic lock and systemic antibiotics (44%). Immediate removal of the CVC was more likely in case of fungal infection (78%), Staphylococcus aureus (53%), or in case of PICC catheter (52%) (all p < 0.01). After the first CRBSI, 80% of centers used preventive CVC locks (taurolidine in 84% of cases, p < 0.001). We observed a large heterogeneity in practices regarding preparation, duration, reaspiration, and volume of CVC locks, and monitoring of CRBSI (timing of blood cultures, radiological work-up).

CONCLUSION

In this international survey of HPN expert centers, we observed a significant consensus regarding the initial management of CRBSI and the use of secondary preventive CVC locks, while areas of variation exist. Management of CRBSI may be improved with clearer recommendations based on the micro-organism and the type of CVC, including PICC lines which are increasingly used yet insufficiently studied in HPN patients.

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.

Experience and opinions relating to pregnancy in patients with chronic intestinal failure: an international survey

Introduction

Pregnancy in patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) is a relatively rare occurrence but is an important contemporary topic given both the increasing use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and the demographics of patients with CIF.

Method

An opinion-based survey was produced in a multidisciplinary manner, which was then distributed internationally, via the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism network, using a web-based survey tool for healthcare professionals with a specialist interest in the management of CIF.

Results

Seventy specialists from 11 countries completed the survey. Fifty-four per cent of the respondents reported some experience of managing pregnancy in patients with CIF. However, 60% stated that they did not feel that it was their role to discuss the topic of pregnancy with their patients, with fewer than 10% stating that they routinely did so. Respondents felt that an individualised approach was required when considering alterations to parenteral support prior to conception, during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Most respondents also felt there was no increased risk of catheter-related blood stream infections, while catheter-related thrombosis was deemed to be the most significant HPN-related complication for pregnant women.

Conclusion

This study reports a variable experience, knowledge and confidence of healthcare professionals when considering pregnancy in patients with CIF. The risk of HPN-related complication was felt to be greater during pregnancy, with an individualised approach being the preferred route for most aspects of care. The findings support the need for an international registry and subsequent consensus guidelines for the management of pregnancy in CIF.

Characteristics of adult patients with chronic intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome: An international multicenter survey

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The case-mix of patients with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF) can differ among centres and may also be affected by the timeframe of data collection. Therefore, the ESPEN international multicenter cross-sectional survey was analyzed to compare the characteristics of SBS-IF cohorts collected within the same timeframe in different countries.

METHODS

The study included 1880 adult SBS-IF patients collected in 2015 by 65 centres from 22 countries. The demographic, nutritional, SBS type (end jejunostomy, SBS-J; jejuno-colic anastomosis, SBS-JC; jejunoileal anastomosis with an intact colon and ileocecal valve, SBS-JIC), underlying disease and intravenous supplementation (IVS) characteristics were analyzed. IVS was classified as fluid and electrolyte alone (FE) or parenteral nutrition admixture (PN). The mean daily IVS volume, calculated on a weekly basis, was categorized as <1, 1-2, 2-3 and >3 L/day.

RESULTS

In the entire group: 60.7% were females and SBS-J comprised 60% of cases, while mesenteric ischaemia (MI) and Crohn' disease (CD) were the main underlying diseases. IVS dependency was longer than 3 years in around 50% of cases; IVS was infused ≥5 days/week in 75% and FE in 10% of cases. Within the SBS-IF cohort: CD was twice and thrice more frequent in SBS-J than SBS-JC and SBS-JIC, respectively, while MI was more frequent in SBS-JC and SBS-JIC. Within countries: SBS-J represented 75% or more of patients in UK and Denmark and 50-60% in the other countries, except Poland where SBS-JC prevailed. CD was the main underlying disease in UK, USA, Denmark and The Netherlands, while MI prevailed in France, Italy and Poland.

CONCLUSIONS

SBS-IF type is primarily determined by the underlying disease, with significant variation between countries. These novel data will be useful for planning and managing both clinical activity and research studies on SBS.

ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition in chronic intestinal failure

BACKGROUND

This practical guideline is based on the ESPEN Guidelines on Chronic Intestinal Failure in Adults.

METHODOLOGY

ESPEN guidelines have been shortened and transformed into flow charts for easier use in clinical practice. The practical guideline is dedicated to all professionals including physicians, dieticians, nutritionists, and nurses working with patients with chronic intestinal failure.

RESULTS

This practical guideline consists of 112 recommendations with short commentaries for the management and treatment of benign chronic intestinal failure, including home parenteral nutrition and its complications, intestinal rehabilitation, and intestinal transplantation.

CONCLUSION

This practical guideline gives guidance to health care providers involved in the management of patients with chronic intestinal failure.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Protocol Is a Safe and Effective Approach in Patients with Gastrointestinal Fistulas Undergoing Reconstruction: Results from a Prospective Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

An enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) poses a major surgical problem. The definitive surgical repair of persistent fistulas remains a surgical challenge with a high rate of re-fistulation and mortality, and the reasons for that is not the surgical technique alone. Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS®) is an evidence-based multimodal perioperative protocol proven to reduce postoperative complications. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical value of the ERAS protocol in surgical patients with ECF.

METHODS

ERAS protocol was used in all patients scheduled for surgery for ECF at the Stanley Dudrick's Memorial Hospital in Skawina between 2011 and 2020. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) was in charge of the program and performed annual audits. A consecutive series of 100 ECF patients (44 females, 56 males, mean age 54.1 years) were evaluated. Postoperative complications rate, readmission rate, length of hospital stay, prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were assessed. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT04771832.

RESULTS

ERAS protocol was successfully introduced for ECF surgeries; however, eight modifications to the ERAS program was performed in 2015. They led to improvement of surgical outcomes: reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting (15 vs. 17% patients, p = 0.025), overall complication rate (11 vs. 10, p = 0.021), median length of hospital stay (overall and after surgery, p = 0.022 and 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ERAS protocol can be successfully used for ECF patients. Prescheduled audits can contribute to the improvement of care.

From hospital unit to intestinal failure center: Twenty years of history

AIM

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is one of the most demanding medical therapies as it is the only option for patients for intestinal failure (IF). No unequivocal policy on how to start and progress with HPN has ever been presented. The IF Center at the Stanley Dudrick's Memorial Hospital in Skawina is one of the biggest centers in Poland, celebrating its twentieth birthday last year. It offered the unique chance to present how to create and grow the IF center, increasing the quality of care. The above became the aim of this study.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all medical records of HPN patients from the University Hospital and Stanley Dudrick's Memorial Hospital in Skawina. Patient profile, clinical course and treatment outcomes were assessed. The evolution of all aspects of HPN is presented. A brief historical perspective has been added to better illustrate the center's growth and transformation.

RESULTS

608 patients (363 female, 245 male, mean age 55.55 year) from all over Poland were treated between December 1999 and December 2019. The most frequent indication for HPN was mechanical obstruction (277, 45.7%), followed by short bowel syndrome (SBS, 208, 34.3%) and intestinal fistula (46, 7.59%). The most common primary disease was cancer (n = 267), followed by mesenteric ischemia (n = 104), and surgical complications (n = 62). 314 patients (51.8%) died. 73 (12.04%) were successfully weaned off PN. The catheter infection rate reached 0.39/1000 catheter days.

CONCLUSIONS

the founding of the HPN center and its further development is possible provided that there is team of dedicated people, supported by hospital base. The real growth opportunity is guaranteed by the reimbursement. It is necessary to adapt to the changing circumstances.

An international survey on clinicians' perspectives on the diagnosis and management of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and enteric dysmotility

BACKGROUND

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) and enteric dysmotility (ED) are small intestinal motility disorders defined by radiological and manometric criteria. In the absence of consensus guidelines, we surveyed opinions on the diagnosis and management of CIPO and ED among experts from different countries.

METHODS

A survey questionnaire was circulated electronically to members of the European society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and United European Gastroenterology. Only responses from participants completing all required components were included.

KEY RESULTS

Of 154 participants, 93% agreed that CIPO and ED should be classified separately. Overall, 73% reported an increasing incidence of CIPO and ED, with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome the group with the largest increase in referrals (37%), particularly in the UK (P < .0001). The majority (95%) find diagnosing CIPO and ED difficult. Notably, antroduodenal manometry, a test mandated to diagnose ED, is infrequently used (only 21% respondents use in >50% cases) and full thickness biopsies were reported to seldom influence medical treatment, nutritional management, and prognosis. Respondents reported that very few treatments are useful for most patients, with bacterial overgrowth treatment, prucalopride, and psychological therapies felt to be the most useful. While only 23% of clinicians felt that parenteral nutrition (PN) improves gastrointestinal symptoms in >50% of cases, 68% reported PN dependency at 5 years in the majority of cases.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

These data highlight the difficulties with diagnosing and managing CIPO and ED and underscore the urgent need for international, multidisciplinary, clinical practice guidelines.

Intravenous supplementation type and volume are associated with 1-year outcome and major complications in patients with chronic intestinal failure

BACKGROUND AND AIM

No marker to categorise the severity of chronic intestinal failure (CIF) has been developed. A 1-year international survey was carried out to investigate whether the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism clinical classification of CIF, based on the type and volume of the intravenous supplementation (IVS), could be an indicator of CIF severity.

METHODS

At baseline, participating home parenteral nutrition (HPN) centres enrolled all adults with ongoing CIF due to non-malignant disease; demographic data, body mass index, CIF mechanism, underlying disease, HPN duration and IVS category were recorded for each patient. The type of IVS was classified as fluid and electrolyte alone (FE) or parenteral nutrition admixture (PN). The mean daily IVS volume, calculated on a weekly basis, was categorised as <1, 1-2, 2-3 and >3 L/day. The severity of CIF was determined by patient outcome (still on HPN, weaned from HPN, deceased) and the occurrence of major HPN/CIF-related complications: intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), catheter-related venous thrombosis and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI).

RESULTS

Fifty-one HPN centres included 2194 patients. The analysis showed that both IVS type and volume were independently associated with the odds of weaning from HPN (significantly higher for PN <1 L/day than for FE and all PN >1 L/day), patients' death (lower for FE, p=0.079), presence of IFALD cholestasis/liver failure and occurrence of CRBSI (significantly higher for PN 2-3 and PN >3 L/day).

CONCLUSIONS

The type and volume of IVS required by patients with CIF could be indicators to categorise the severity of CIF in both clinical practice and research protocols.

Considerations for the management of home parenteral nutrition during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A position paper from the Home Artificial Nutrition and Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of ESPEN

The management of patients with chronic intestinal failure requiring home parenteral nutrition has been and will continue to be impaired during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Multidisciplinary intestinal failure teams may have to adapt their clinical approaches to home care, outpatient care as well as hospital admission and discharge in order to keep this vulnerable group of patients as safe and well as possible during the unprecedented challenges that countries are facing during the pandemic. Equally, it is important that expert advice from intestinal failure teams is available when home parenteral nutrition (HPN)-dependent patients require admission with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Home Artificial Nutrition & Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) has developed a position paper to outline areas for intestinal failure teams to consider when managing patients with chronic intestinal failure during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Home medical nutrition during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - A position paper

BACKGROUND

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of a worldwide rapidly spreading illness, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients fed enterally and parenterally at home are exposed to the same risk of infection as the general population, but more prone to complications than others. Therefore the guidance for care-givers and care-takers of these patients is needed.

METHODS

The literature search identified no relevant systematic reviews or studies on the subject. Therefore a panel of 21 experts from 13 home medical nutrition (HMN) centres in Poland was formed. Twenty-three key issues relevant to the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 in the HMN settings were identified and discussed. Some statements diverge from the available nutrition, surgical or ICU guidelines, some are based on the best available experience. Each topic was discussed and assessed during two Delphi rounds subsequently. Statements were graded strong or weak based on the balance between benefit and harm, resource and cost implications, equity, and feasibility.

RESULTS

the panel issued 23 statements, all of them were graded strong. Two scored 85.71% agreement, eleven 95.23%, and ten 100%. The topics were: infection control, enrolment to HMN, logistics and patient information.

CONCLUSIONS

the position paper present pragmatic statements for HMN to be implemented in places without existing protocols for SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. They represent the state of knowledge available at the moment and may change should new evidence occurs.

Home parenteral nutrition with an omega-3-fatty-acid-enriched MCT/LCT lipid emulsion in patients with chronic intestinal failure (the HOME study): study protocol for a randomized, controlled, multicenter, international clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-preserving therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) indicated for patients who cannot achieve their nutritional requirements by enteral intake. Intravenously administered lipid emulsions (ILEs) are an essential component of HPN, providing energy and essential fatty acids, but can become a risk factor for intestinal-failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). In HPN patients, major effort is taken in the prevention of IFALD. Novel ILEs containing a proportion of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) could be of benefit, but the data on the use of n-3 PUFA in HPN patients are still limited.

METHODS/DESIGN

The HOME study is a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter, international clinical trial conducted in European hospitals that treat HPN patients. A total of 160 patients (80 per group) will be randomly assigned to receive the n-3 PUFA-enriched medium/long-chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) ILE (Lipidem/Lipoplus® 200 mg/ml, B. Braun Melsungen AG) or the MCT/LCT ILE (Lipofundin® MCT/LCT/Medialipide® 20%, B. Braun Melsungen AG) for a projected period of 8 weeks. The primary endpoint is the combined change of liver function parameters (total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase) from baseline to final visit. Secondary objectives are the further evaluation of the safety and tolerability as well as the efficacy of the ILEs.

DISCUSSION

Currently, there are only very few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of ILEs in HPN, and there are very few data at all on the use of n-3 PUFAs. The working hypothesis is that n-3 PUFA-enriched ILE is safe and well-tolerated especially with regard to liver function in patients requiring HPN. The expected outcome is to provide reliable data to support this thesis thanks to a considerable number of CIF patients, consequently to broaden the present evidence on the use of ILEs in HPN.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03282955. Registered on 14 September 2017.

Clinical approach to the management of Intestinal Failure Associated Liver Disease (IFALD) in adults: A position paper from the Home Artificial Nutrition and Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of ESPEN

We recommend that intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) should be diagnosed by the presence of abnormal liver function tests and/or evidence of radiological and/or histological liver abnormalities occurring in an individual with IF, in the absence of another primary parenchymal liver pathology (e.g. viral or autoimmune hepatitis), other hepatotoxic factors (e.g. alcohol/medication) or biliary obstruction. The presence or absence of sepsis should be noted, along with the duration of PN administration. Abnormal liver histology is not mandatory for a diagnosis of IFALD and the decision to perform a liver biopsy should be made on a case-by-case basis, but should be particularly considered in those with a persistent abnormal conjugated bilirubin in the absence of intra or extra-hepatic cholestasis on radiological imaging and/or persistent or worsening hyperbilirubinaemia despite resolution of any underlying sepsis and/or any clinical or radiological features of chronic liver disease. Nutritional approaches aimed at minimising PN overfeeding and optimising oral/enteral nutrition should be instituted to prevent and/or manage IFALD. We further recommend that the lipid administered is limited to less than 1 g/kg/day, and the prescribed omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio is reduced wherever possible. For patients with any evidence of progressive hepatic fibrosis or overt liver failure, combined intestinal and liver transplantation should be considered.

Clinical classification of adult patients with chronic intestinal failure due to benign disease: An international multicenter cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the applicability of the ESPEN 16-category clinical classification of chronic intestinal failure, based on patients' intravenous supplementation (IVS) requirements for energy and fluids, and to evaluate factors associated with those requirements.

METHODS

ESPEN members were invited to participate through ESPEN Council representatives. Participating centers enrolled adult patients requiring home parenteral nutrition for chronic intestinal failure on March 1st 2015. The following patient data were recorded though a structured database: sex, age, body weight and height, intestinal failure mechanism, underlying disease, IVS volume and energy need.

RESULTS

Sixty-five centers from 22 countries enrolled 2919 patients with benign disease. One half of the patients were distributed in 3 categories of the ESPEN clinical classification. 9% of patients required only fluid and electrolyte supplementation. IVS requirement varied considerably according to the pathophysiological mechanism of intestinal failure. Notably, IVS volume requirement represented loss of intestinal function better than IVS energy requirement. A simplified 8 category classification of chronic intestinal failure was devised, based on two types of IVS (either fluid and electrolyte alone or parenteral nutrition admixture containing energy) and four categories of volume.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' IVS requirements varied widely, supporting the need for a tool to homogenize patient categorization. This study has devised a novel, simplified eight category IVS classification for chronic intestinal failure that will prove useful in both the clinical and research setting when applied together with the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of the patient's 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.

Perioperative immunonutrition in surgical cancer patients: a summary of a decade of research

BACKGROUND

Immunonutrition is assumed to enhance immune system function. In surgical patients, it is supposed to reduce postoperative complications. However, results of recent clinical trials have been puzzling and have not supported this theory.

AIM

The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of enteral and parenteral postoperative immunonutrition.

METHODS

After initial evaluation of 969 patients, the intent-to-treat analysis included 776 patients (female 407, male 466, mean age 61.1 years) undergoing gastric or pancreatic resections between 2001 and 2009. All patients were randomly assigned after surgery to one of the following groups: standard enteral nutrition (SEN), immunomodulating enteral nutrition (IMEN), standard parenteral nutrition (SPN), or immunomodulating parenteral nutrition (IMPN). All malnourished patients received preoperative parenteral nutrition. Number and type of postoperative complications, length of hospitalization (length of stay [LOS]), and vital organ function were assessed.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed in well-nourished patients, during either enteral or parenteral intervention, independent of the type of intervention (standard or immunomodulating). However, analysis of the malnourished group revealed the positive impact of enteral immunonutrition on reduction of postoperative complications (28.3 vs. 39.2 %, respectively; p = 0.043) and LOS (17.1 and 13.1 days, respectively; p < 0.05) compared with a standard enteral diet. The cross-analysis of SEN, IMEN, SPN, and IMPN was insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

The type of postoperative nutrition was of no importance in well-nourished patients. However, in malnourished patients, enteral immunonutrition helped to improve treatment outcome. These findings suggest its use as a method of choice during the postoperative period.

Nutritional support teams: the cooperation among physicians and pharmacists helps improve cost-effectiveness of home parenteral nutrition (HPN)

INTRODUCTION

Modern home parenteral nutrition (HPN) requires the preparation of tailored admixtures. The physicians' demands for their composition are often at the variance with pharmaceutical principles, which causes the necessity of either the preparation of ex tempore admixtures or stability testing ensuring long shelf life. Both approaches are not cost-effective. The aim of the study was to use the cooperation among physicians and pharmacists to assure both: cost-effectiveness and patient-tailored HPN admixtures.

METHODS

The first part of the study consisted of the thorough analysis of prescriptions for the most demanding 47 HPN patients (27 females and 20 males, mean age 53.1 year) treated at one HPN center to create few as possible long-shelf life admixtures. The second part of the study consisted of stability testing and modifications.

RESULTS

The analysis showed over 137 variations needed to cover all macro- and micronutrients requirements. Their cost as ex-tempore solutions was extremely high (over 110 000 EURO/month) due to logistics and similarly high if stability test for variation were to be performed (68 500 EURO). Therefore prescription was prepared de novo within team of physicians and pharmacists and four base models were designed. Water and electrolytes, particularly magnesium and calcium showed to be the major issues. Stability tests failed in one admixture due to high electrolytes concentration. It was corrected, and the new formula passes the test. Five basic models were then used for creation of new bags. Cost of such an activity were 3 700 EURO (p<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: The cooperation within the members of nutritional support team could improve the cost-effectiveness and quality of HPN.

Home enteral nutrition reduces complications, length of stay, and health care costs: results from a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Home enteral nutrition (HEN) has always been recognized as a life-saving procedure, but with the ongoing economic crisis influencing health care, its cost-effectiveness has been questioned recently.

OBJECTIVE

The unique reimbursement situation in Poland enabled the otherwise ethically unacceptable, hence unavailable, comparison of the period of no-feeding and long-term feeding and the subsequent analyses of the clinical value of the latter and its cost-effectiveness.

DESIGN

The observational multicenter study in the group of 456 HEN patients [142 children: 55 girls and 87 boys, mean (±SD) age 8.7 ± 5.9 y; 314 adults: 151 women and 163 men, mean age 59.3 ± 19.8 y] was performed between January 2007 and July 2013. Two 12-mo periods were compared. During the first period, patients were tube fed a homemade diet and were not monitored; during the other period, patients received HEN. HEN included tube feeding and complex monitoring by a nutrition support team. The number of complications, hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, biochemical and anthropometric variables, and costs of hospitalization were compared.

RESULTS

Implementation of HEN enabled weight gain and stabilized liver function in both age groups, but it hardly influenced the other tests. HEN implementation reduced the incidence of infectious complications (37.4% compared with 14.9%; P < 0.001, McNemar test), the number of hospital admissions [1.98 ± 2.42 (mean ± SD) before and 1.26 ± 2.18 after EN; P < 0.001, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test], and length of hospital stay (39.7 ± 71.9 compared with 11.9 ± 28.5 d; P < 0.001, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). The mean annual costs ($) of hospitalization were reduced from 6500.20 ± 10,402.69 to 2072.58 ± 5497.00.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that HEN improves clinical outcomes and decreases health care costs. It was impossible, however, to determine precisely which factor mattered more: the artificial diet itself or the introduction of complex care.

Taurolidine lock in home parenteral nutrition in adults: results from an open-label randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Many techniques have been tested to reduce the incidence of catheter-relater bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) during home parenteral nutrition (HPN). One of these methods, taurolidine lock, has shown some potential in several studies, but it has been studied primarily in patients with a relatively high CRBSI rate. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the clinical value of taurolidine in patients receiving HPN who have a low infection rate.

METHODS

The CRBSI ratio at the Skawina HPN center has remained at 0.3-0.4 episodes/patient/y for the past 7 years. In November 2012, 30 patients (17 men, 13 women, mean age 52.3 years) were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: 2% taurolidine lock (group A), 1.35% taurolidine + citrate lock (B), and control-saline flush (C). Patients were observed for 12 consecutive months for catheter-related complications. Blood cultures were collected in each case in which an infection was suspected.

RESULTS

The total number of catheter days reached 10,968, with the following number of days per group: group A, 3658; group B, 3650; and group C, 3660. No complications were observed in the control group, while patients in the study groups had 1 catheter infection (group A) and 1 occlusion (group B). The CRBSIs were treated successfully with antibiotics. The cost of treatment in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The study did not observe any additional clinical value of taurolidine in patients receiving HPN who have a low infection rate and found low cost-effectiveness. Taurolidine should most likely be used only in patients with a high CRBSI rate.

Commercial enteral formulas and nutrition support teams improve the outcome of home enteral tube feeding

BACKGROUND

The benefits of home enteral tube feeding (HETF) provided by nutrition support teams (NSTs) have been questioned recently, given the growing costs to the healthcare system. This study examined the effect of a specialized home enteral nutrition program on clinical outcome variables in HETF patients.

METHODS

The observational study included 203 patients (103 women, 100 men; mean age 52.5 years) receiving HETF with homemade diets for at least 12 months before starting a specialized home nutrition program for another 12 months consisting of provision of commercial enteral formulas and the guidance of an NST. Both study periods were compared regarding the number of hospital admissions, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and costs of hospitalization.

RESULTS

A specialized HETF program significantly reduced the number of hospital admissions and the duration of hospital and ICU stays. The need for hospitalization and ICU admission was significantly reduced, with odds ratios of 0.083 (95% confidence interval, 0.051-0.133, P < .001) and 0.259 (95% confidence interval, 0.124-0.539, P < .001), respectively. Specialized HETF was associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of pneumonia (24.1% vs 14.2%), respiratory failure (7.3% vs 1.9%), urinary tract infection (11.3% vs 4.9%), and anemia (3.9% vs 0%) requiring hospitalization. The average yearly cost of hospital treatment decreased from $764.65 per patient to $142.66 per year per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The specialized HETF care program reduces morbidity and costs related to long-term enteral feeding at home.

Perioperative nutrition in malnourished surgical cancer patients - a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Malnourished surgical patients are supposed to benefit from perioperative nutrition. It is unclear, however, whether enteral intervention really surpasses the parenteral one, and whether the modification of standard formula matters. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical value of the route and type of perioperative nutritional support.

METHODS

A group of 167 malnourished patients (91 M, 76 F, mean age 61.4 years) operated between June 2001 and December 2008 was randomly assigned during postoperative period to four groups according to nutritional intervention: enteral and parenteral, standard or immunomodulating. All patients received parenteral nutrition before surgery for 14 days, which provided homogenous groups for the postoperative evaluation. The trial was designed to test the hypothesis that enteral nutrition and/or immunonutrition can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The incidence of individual complications was comparable among all four groups (p > 0.05). Infectious complications occurred in 23 of 84 patients with standard diets and in 20 of 83 patients receiving immunomodulatory formula (odds ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.69). There were no significant differences in infectious complications' ratio in patients receiving enteral (24/84 patients) and parenteral formulas (19/83 patients). Neither immunomodulating formulas nor enteral feeding significantly affected the length of hospitalization, overall morbidity and mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Results demonstrated that postoperative nutritional intervention generates comparable results regardless of the route and formula used and that preoperative intervention is of the utmost importance. The study was registered in the Clinical Trials Database - number: NCT 00558155.

Enteral and parenteral nutrition in the conservative treatment of pancreatic fistula: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Postoperative pancreatic fistula is the most common and potentially life-threatening complication after pancreatic surgery. Although nutritional support is a key component of conservative therapy in such cases, there have been no well-designed clinical trials substantiating the superiority of either total parenteral nutrition or enteral nutrition. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of both routes of nutritional intervention.

METHODS

A randomized clinical trial was conducted in a tertiary surgical center of pancreatic and gastrointestinal surgery. Seventy-eight patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula were treated conservatively and randomly assigned to groups receiving for 30 days either enteral nutrition or total parenteral nutrition. The primary end point was the 30-day fistula closure rate.

RESULTS

After 30 days, closure rates in patients receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition were 60% (24 of 40) and 37% (14 of 38), respectively (P=.043). The odds ratio for the probability that fistula closes on enteral nutrition compared to total parenteral nutrition was 2.571 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.031-6.411). Median time to closure was 27 days (95% CI: 21-33) for enteral nutrition, and no median time was reached in total parenteral nutrition (P=.047). A logistic regression analysis identified only 2 factors significantly associated with fistula closure, ie, enteral nutrition (odds ratio=6.136; 95% CI: 1.204-41.623; P=.043) and initial fistula output of ≤200 mL/day (odds ratio=12.701; 95% CI: 9.102-47.241; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Enteral nutrition is associated with significantly higher closure rates and shorter time to closure of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

The immunomodulating enteral nutrition in malnourished surgical patients - a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND & AIM

The immunomodulating nutrition was supposed to reduce the incidence of complications in surgical patients, but many authors have questioned its value recently. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of enteral immunonutrition in postoperative period.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and December 2009, 305 malnourished patients (123 F, 182 M, m. age 60.8) undergoing resection for pancreatic or gastric cancer, after preoperative 14 days of parenteral feeding, were randomized in double-blind manner to receive either postoperative immunomodulating enteral diet (IMEN) or standard oligopeptide diet (SEN). Outcome measures of the intend-to-treat analysis were: number and type of complications, length of hospitalization, mortality, and vital organ function.

RESULTS

Median postoperative hospital stay was 17.1 days in SEN and 13.1 days in IMEN group (p = 0.006). Infectious complications were observed in 60 patients (39.2%) in SEN and 43 (28.3%) in IMEN group (p = 0.04). Differences were also observed in overall morbidity (47.1 vs 33.5%, p = 0.01) and mortality (5.9 vs 1.3%, p = 0.03), but the ratio of surgical complications, organ function, and treatment tolerance did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS

The study proved that postoperative immunomodulating enteral nutrition should be the treatment of choice in malnourished surgical cancer patients. The Clinical Trials Database registry number: NCT00576940.

Standard and immunomodulating enteral nutrition in patients after extended gastrointestinal surgery--a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND & AIM

The immunomodulating enteral diets are intended to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications in surgical patients. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical effect of such nutrition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between June 2004 and September 2007 196 well-nourished patients undergoing resection for pancreatic and gastric cancer were randomized in double-blind manner to receive postoperative enteral nutrition with immunostimulating diet (IMEN group) or standard oligopeptic diet (SEN group). Outcome measures were: number and type of complications, length of hospital stay, mortality, treatment tolerance, liver and kidney function.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety six patients were initially enrolled, finally 183 patients (91 SEN, 92 IMEN group; 69 F, 114 M, median age 61.2) were analyzed. Median postoperative hospital stay was 12.4 days (SD 5.9) in SEN and 12.9 days (SD 8.0) in IMEN group (p=0.42). Complications were observed in 21 patients (23.1%) in SEN and 23 (25.2%) in IMEN group (p>0.05). Four (4.4%) patients in SEN group and 4 (4.4%) in IMEN had surgical complications (p>0.05). There were no differences in liver and kidney function, visceral protein turnover and treatment tolerance.

CONCLUSION

Results of our study showed no benefit of immunomodulating enteral nutrition over standard enteral nutrition in patients after major gastrointestinal surgery. The Trial was registered in Clinical Trials Database--number: NCT00576940.