Jpen Parenter Enter
-
Jpen Parenter Enter · Jul 1998
Use of intravenous lipids in critically ill patients with sepsis without and with hepatic failure.
Fat is the preferred energy fuel both in patients with sepsis and with hepatic failure. Thus lipid emulsions should serve as an ideal nutritional substrate in parenteral nutrition. However, previous studies have generated conflicting results on the utilization of artificial lipids in these disease states, and systematic studies in critically ill patients with combined organ dysfunctions and additional complications are lacking. We compared the elimination, hydrolysis, and oxidation of a 20% lipid emulsion in critically ill patients on respiratory support with sepsis and with sepsis plus hepatic failure and in healthy control subjects. ⋯ In a clinically relevant dosage range, the utilization of an i.v. lipid emulsion, the elimination and hydrolysis of triglycerides, and the lipid oxidation is not impaired in ventilated critically ill patients with sepsis or sepsis and chronic hepatic failure. Lipid emulsions thus are efficiently metabolized in critically ill patients with combined organ dysfunctions and associated sepsis.