The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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J Nutr Health Aging · Sep 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialA prospective, randomized clinical study of adjunctive peripheral parenteral nutrition in adult subacute care patients.
A number of frail, older, undernourished patients cannot maintain adequate oral intake to meet protein-calorie needs after an illness, even when high-density nutritional supplements are added. Tolerance to enteral nutrition by gastric tube is poor in this group of patients. Peripheral parenteral nutrition is an effective method of administering nutritional support to patients with mild to moderate nutritional deficiencies who are unable to receive enteral nutrition or for whom enteral nutrition alone cannot meet energy needs. However, no data exists for the use of peripheral parenteral nutrition longer than two weeks and overall there are remarkably few studies on the efficacy of peripheral parenteral nutrition. ⋯ We conclude that peripheral parenteral nutrition can be safely administered in post-acute settings with a low rate of complications.