• Taylor Jersak, Stephani S Kim, Garey Noritz, Marissa Testa, and Lisa Humphrey.
• Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
• J Palliat Med. 2022 Apr 1; 25 (4): 577-583.

AbstractBackground: Patients with neurologic impairment (NI) experience gastrointestinal symptoms as one of three common problems associated with NI, including occasional persistent total parenteral nutrition (TPN) use. Objective: To describe the incidence of persistent TPN use in patients with NI. Design: Retrospective chart review on patients 0-38 years old enrolled in the Complex Health Care Program from January 2011 to October 2015. Setting/Subjects: This study occurred in a United States pediatric tertiary care hospital. Two hundred and eight participants were included based on NI, utilizing a surgical feeding tube, and having encounters with a dietitian. Measurements: The primary outcome was incidence of persistent TPN use in patients with NI. Secondary outcomes included mortality rate, hospitalization frequency, time-to-TPN initiation, and describing symptoms preceding persistent TPN use. Results: Median number of admissions was 4 for 168 hospitalized patients (59% male, 58% White). One hundred twenty-five patients required admission for unplanned bowel rest with average length-of-stay of 7.3 days. Twenty-six patients required TPN initiation. Average time-to-TPN was two years since enrollment. Mortality rate was 14% (n = 28). TPN initiation (odds ratio [OR]: 3.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-13.8) was significantly associated with increased OR of mortality. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a substantial population of patients with NI and surgical feeding tube are affected by persistent feeding intolerance. We propose that persistent TPN use may be a risk factor for mortality. Additional research is needed to delineate relationships between persistent TPN use, hospitalizations, and mortality.

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