Postoperative Total Parenteral Nutrition 'Versus Total Enteral Nutrition in P:atients with Gastro-Intestinal Malignancies

Abstract

Patients with gastrointestinal cancer are at high risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition has a deleterious effect on every major organ system in the body. Enteral nutritional support improves clinical outcomes for selected subsets of critically ill patients, including those with gastrointestinal malignancy. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with gut disuse, however, sets the stage for immune dysfunCtion by allowing loss of gut integrity and making possible subsequent microbial translocation, and macrophage activation. The present study continued to demonstrate that both modalities seem to be similarly safe and the rate of complications relatively low.