GASTROENTEROLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
October 15, 2009
Ziegler TR. Parenteral nutrition in the critically ill patient. N Engl J Med 2009;361:1088-97.
True or False
1. In patients who are not malnourished and who become unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition should be initiated within 48 hours
2. Recommended maximal dose of lipid emulsion is 1.0 to 1.3 g/kg/d
3. Serum triglyceride levels should be monitored at least weekly in patients receiving parenteral nutrition
4. It is better to overestimate the caloric needs rather than underestimate them
5. The majority of critically ill patients who require nutrition should receive it parenterally
6. Hyperglycemia with blood sugar levels >180mg/dL may be associated with increased death and complications in the critically ill patient receiving parenteral nutrition.
7. Malnourished patients should received additional thiamine (over the daily requirements) to prevent thiamine deficiency with carbohydrate feedings
8. In critically ill patients, circulating levels of albumin and prealbumin are not useful to assess nutritional status
9. Parenteral nutrition is contraindicated if it is suspected that it will be used for <7 days.
10. Approximately 50% to 60% of total daily calories should be provided as fat