Paliatívna medicína a liečba bolesti 2/2009

Indications for parenteral nutrition in oncologic patients and associated problems

Cachexy and malnutrition occurs in 80 % patients with oncologic diseases. In management of problems in patients with advanced malignant disesase is necessary to define exactly the group of patients that may benefit from parenteral nutrition. Helpful can be simple laboratory parameters – serum levels of albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and cholinesterasy. Two case reports demonstrate purposeful use of TPN in patients with advanced malignant disesase and problems associated with it.

Keywords: total parenteral nutrition (TPN), protein catabolism.