![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Summary
We have employed combined parenteral nutri tion and chemoor radiotherapy in 36 cancer pa tients. Severe malnutrition prevented initiation 01 continuation of adequate antineoplastic treatmeni in 24 of them; the 12 others were to be treated by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone mar row transfusion.
The infusion catheter is placed in superior ven£ cava via the right internal jugular vein. The nutri ents, including lipids, are mixed under sterile condi tions in one disposable nutritive bag.
The nutritional support permitted to 8 out of 1C patients to receive their first chemotherapeutic treatment without further delay; 12 of 14 patients could continue an antineoplastic treatment at ade quate doses despite severe malnutrition. Lastly the 12 patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy tolerated the treatment without alteration of nutri tional parameters.
Infectious and metabolic complications were rare and always reversible. Four infections were catheter-related; only 2 septicemias have been ob served among 12 severely neutropenic patients. Two cases of hyperbilirubinemia were probably secondary to caloric overload.
This study confirms that parenteral nutrition can be of considerable help in the management of selected medical cancer patients. But only prospective and randomized studies will precisely define its indications and benefits.