A randomised prospective comparison of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and nasogastric tube feeding after acute dysphagic stroke.

OBJECTIVE--To compare percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and nasogastric tube feeding after acute dysphagic stroke. DESIGN--Randomised prospective study of inpatients with acute stroke requiring enteral nutrition. SETTING--One university hospital (Nottingham) and one district general hospital (Derby). SUBJECTS--30 patients with persisting dysphagia at 14 days after acute stroke: 16 patients were randomised to gastrostomy tube feeding and 14 to nasogastric tube feeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Six week mortality; amount of feed administered; change in nutritional state; treatment failure; and length of hospital stay. RESULTS--Mortality at 6 weeks was significantly lower in the gastrostomy group with two deaths (12%) compared with eight deaths (57%) in the nasogastric group (P < 0.05). All gastrostomy fed patients (16) received the total prescribed feed whereas 10/14 (71%) of nasogastric patients lost at least one day''s feed. Nasogastric patients received a significantly (P < 0.001) smaller proportion of their prescribed feed (78%; 95% confidence interval 63% to 94%) compared with the gastrostomy group (100%). Patients fed via a gastrostomy tube showed greater improvement in nutritional state, according to several different criteria at six weeks compared with the nasogastric group. In the gastrostomy group the mean albumin concentration increased from 27.1 g/l (24.5 g/l to 29.7 g/l) to 30.1 g/l (28.3 g/l to 31.9 g/l). In contrast, among the nasogastric group there was a reduction from 31.4 g/l (28.6 g/l to 34.2 g/l) to 22.3 g/l (20.7 g/l to 23.9 g/l) (P < 0.003). In addition, there were fewer treatment failures in the gastrostomy group (0/16 versus 3/14). Six patients from the gastrostomy group were discharged from hospital within six weeks of the procedure compared with none from the nasogastric group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION--This study indicates that early gastrostomy tube feeding is greatly superior to nasogastric tube feeding and should be the nutritional treatment of choice for patients with acute dysphagic stroke.     

Effect of a synbiotic on microbial community structure in a continuous culture model of the gastric microbiota in enteral nutrition patients

Patients with dysphagia require long-term nutritional support. This can be delivered by the enteral route via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. Enteral nutrition (EN) bypasses the body's innate defences that prevent the microbial colonization of the proximal gut, which predisposes to microbial overgrowth. A continuous culture model simulating the upper gastrointestinal tract microbiota of EN patients was used to investigate the effects of a synbiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus DUN-311, Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-02, Bifidobacterium lactis BL-01, Synergy 1) on microbial community structure and metabolism. A PEG tube was inserted into the fermenters to study biofilm formation. The synbiotic delivered in sterile semi-skimmed milk (SSSM) was introduced either 48?h prior to or after PEG tube insertion. The synbiotic reduced biofilm formation on PEG tube surfaces, with suppression of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae when it was added subsequent to PEG insertion. When synbiotic feeding was commenced prior to PEG insertion, colonization by Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Candida famata was also inhibited. Lactate production increased in response the synbiotic or control (SSSM). These results indicate that the use of a synbiotic has the potential to reduce pathogen colonization on PEG tube surfaces in vivo, thereby reducing the incidence of biofilm-related infectious complications.     

经腹胃切开途径放置经皮内镜下胃造口管在晚期喉癌病人中的应用

目的:报道在晚期伴食管完全梗阻的喉癌病人中通过经腹胃切开途径成功放置经皮内镜下胃造口管的应用体会。方法:18例喉癌术后复发伴食管完全梗阻的病人,在局麻或硬膜外麻醉下经腹胃切开途径放置经皮內镜下胃造口管,术后行肠内营养支持。结果:16例在局麻下、2例在硬膜外麻醉下成功放置经皮內镜下胃造口管,手术平均时间32.1±5.8分钟,无手术及导管相关性并发症发生。结论:经腹胃切开途径放置经皮內镜下胃造口管是安全、简便及有效的营养支持途径,术后耐受好、易于护理,适合喉癌伴食管完全梗阻病人建立长期营养支持途径的需要。     

肠内营养支持治疗对急性心源性脑卒中 伴吞咽功能障碍患者的临床疗效

目的研究在传统肠内营养基础上添加益生菌制剂对急性心源性脑卒中伴吞咽功能障碍患者的临床疗效。方法选择2016年5月至2018年2月于哈励逊国际和平医院心血管内科及神经内科就诊的急性心源性脑卒中伴吞咽功能障碍患者140例,按照随机数字表法分为实验组和对照组,每组70例。对照组患者给予肠内营养支持治疗,实验组患者给予益生菌制剂联合肠内营养支持治疗。观察入院第1天和第14天两组患者的营养指标,包括血红蛋白(Hb);血清清蛋白(ALB)、总蛋白(TP)、前清蛋白(PA);同时观察神经功能评分和胃肠功能障碍评分及两组患者并发症的发生情况。结果入院后第1天两组患者营养指标、神经功能评分和胃肠功能障碍评分差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗14d后,两组患者营养指标及神经功能评分和胃肠功能障碍评分均较第1天有所下降,对照组患者各指标水平下降程度低于实验组(P0.05),同时对照组患者并发症发生率高于实验组(P0.05)。结论传统肠内营养联合益生菌制剂能有效改善急性心源性脑卒中伴吞咽功障碍患者胃肠道功能,阻止患者营养不良进一步恶化,减少并发症,值得临床推广。     

建立大鼠持续性肠内营养的输注模型和淋巴液引流方法

目的建立大鼠持续性肠内营养的输注模型和淋巴液引流的方法。方法大鼠行胃造口后游离硅胶管至背部,通过swivel管连接到微量输液泵。5 d持续匀速的输入肠内营养后开腹并游离肠淋巴干,大鼠在肠道缺血60 min再灌注120 min同时潜行插入硅胶管收集淋巴液。结果第一次胃造口术后大鼠持续肠内营养输注通畅,未出现死亡或并发症状。第二次手术时通过较简单的方法可以获取淋巴液,成功率较高,可达90%以上。结论大鼠持续肠内营养输注模型的建立,为研究营养物质的作用搭建了一个平台;通过较简单的方法获取淋巴液可以为研究淋巴液的成分提供便利。     

益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预对 重症脑卒中患者营养状态及肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预对重症脑卒中患者营养状态及肠道菌群的影响。方法选取2014年1月至2018年6月于我院住院治疗的重症脑卒中患者70例,随机分为观察组和对照组各35例。两组患者均予控制颅内压、营养神经细胞、抗生素预防感染、保护胃黏膜和维持水电解质酸碱平衡等基础治疗。对照组患者留置鼻饲管行常规肠内营养治疗,观察组患者在对照组治疗基础上加用双歧杆菌四联活菌片水化后鼻饲管注入,1.5 g/次,3次/d,连用10 d。观察两组患者治疗前和治疗10 d后营养状态指标[血清总蛋白(TP)、转铁蛋白(TF)、上臂三头肌肌围(MAMC)]的变化,并比较治疗后肠道菌群(双歧杆菌、乳杆菌、拟杆菌、肠球菌、大肠埃希菌)数量变化。结果治疗10 d后,两组患者血清TP、TF水平和MAMC较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),且治疗后观察组患者TP、TF水平和MAMC高于对照组(P0.05);同时治疗后观察组患者粪便中双歧杆菌、乳杆菌和拟杆菌数量高于对照组,肠球菌和大肠埃希菌数量低于对照组(P0.05)。结论益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预不仅可显著减缓重症脑卒中患者的营养状态恶化;而且能有效地纠正肠道菌群失调,维持肠道微生态的稳定。     

Free oxygen radical-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant in infants receiving total parenteral nutrition

OBJECTIVE: Increased oxygen-derived free radical activity has been reported during total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in infants particularly linked to the fat infusion. It is possible that partial enteral feeding can ameliorate some of the complications of TPN. By this study we aimed to investigate free radical formation and antioxidant activity in term and preterm infants during TPN and/or enteral feeding. STUDY DESIGN: We had 6 groups of term and preterm infants made up of 10 patients each. Group I had only enteral feeding, Group II enteral plus parenteral feeding, Group III only parenteral feeding. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin E and vitamin C levels were measured in all infants. Blood samples of infants receiving only TPN and TPN plus enteral feeding were measured on the 1st and 5th days, and 3h after the end of lipid infusion. RESULTS: There was no difference between the term and preterm infants in terms of MDA, SOD, vitamin C and E levels taken baseline and after parenteral, and enteral plus parenteral feeding on the 1st and 5th days. When 3 groups of both term and preterm infants were compared with each other none of the parameters showed a statistically significant difference. In addition, we compared baseline and 1st and 5th days of TPN therapy in both term and preterm infants fed only parenterally and enteral plus parenteral feedings. In term infants fed both parenterally and parenteral plus enterally, the MDA levels before TPN were significantly higher than that of the levels of patients on parenteral nutrition on the 5th day. On the 1st and 5th days of TPN therapy, the levels of vitamin C was significantly decreased, in term and preterm infants fed only parenterally, levels of vitamin E was increased, in term and preterm infants fed both parenterally and parenteral plus enterally. Also, when compared to their base line the SOD levels of the term infants detected on the 1st and 5th days were significantly high. CONCLUSION: Free radical production is increased by the administration of TPN and may be linked to its adverse effects. It may be assumed that long-term complications of preterm infants receiving TPN may be reduced by further strengthening the antioxidant capacities of the TPN solutions.     

92例脑卒中患者肠外营养和肠内营养治疗效果观察

目的探讨脑卒中患者早期接受肠内营养和肠外营养对并发症及营养指标的影响。方法选取92例重症脑卒中伴吞咽障碍患者按随机表法分为两组,分别给予肠内营养(观察组)和肠外营养(对照组)支持治疗,并观察两组患者治疗前后血清总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(Alb)、血红蛋白(Hb)水平,治疗前、后神经功能缺损(NIHSS)评分和临床肺部感染评分(CPIS)情况。结果治疗后,观察组的血清总蛋白、白蛋白、血红蛋白明显增高,神经功能缺损评分和临床肺部感染发生率明显降低,与对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论早期肠内营养支持可改善重症脑卒中患者机体营养指标,降低并发症发生率。     

Positive Nitrogen Balance and the Prevention of Ileus in the Immediate Postoperative Period

A solution to the problems of nitrogen balance and ileus in the postoperative period is presented. A new three-lumen nasogastric tube (Moss decompression tube) was used in three patients on whom aortic grafts were carried out and in five who underwent cholecystectomy, and these patients are compared to control groups. The use of this tube prevents postoperative ileus and permits the feeding of patients, by the enteral route, as early as two hours after operation in some instances. A positive nitrogen balance was achieved as early as four hours after operation. In control groups, positive nitrogen balance could not be obtained until six to 10 days postoperatively. Weight loss was prevented and hospital stay considerably reduced. The use of the Moss decompression tube prevents postoperative ileus and permits early enteral feeding obtaining, in a matter of hours, a positive nitrogen balance.     

微生态制剂联合肠内营养对食管癌患者术后肠功能及营养状况的影响

目的探讨微生态制剂联合肠内营养对食管癌患者术后肠功能及营养状况的影响。方法选取2018年6月至2018年12月我院胸外科食管癌术后患者58例,随机分为观察组(n=27)和对照组(n=31)。对照组患者术后采用常规肠内肠外联合营养支持方案,观察组患者在对照组基础上给予微生态制剂(活菌型乳酸菌乳饮品)鼻饲。比较两组患者腹胀、腹泻的发生率,通气时间,首次排便时间,留置胃管时间,住院时间,住院总费用,血红蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、白蛋白、视黄醇结合蛋白水平及出院时BMI值的变化。结果观察组患者术后发生腹胀和腹泻的比率明显低于对照组,通气时间、首次排便时间均早于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组患者首次饮水时间提前,胃管置留天数及术后住院天数也较对照组缩短(P<0.05)。两组患者出院时BMI值比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论微生态制剂(活菌型乳酸菌乳饮品)联合肠内营养能改善食管癌患者术后的肠功能,降低肠内营养不耐受的发生率,有利于肠内营养的实施,促进患者康复。     

早期肠内营养在重症急性胰腺炎中的应用

目的:探讨早期肠内营养在重症急性胰腺炎治疗中的应用价值。方法:将重症急性胰腺炎患者30例分为实验组和对照组,对照组予以常规治疗,实验组在常规治疗的基础上通过鼻空肠管予以早期肠内营养,记录患者WBC、CRP、血淀粉酶、尿淀粉酶恢复时间、白蛋白变化情况、感染率、病死率、并发症发生率、住院时间、住院费用等。结果:实验组WBC、CRP、血淀粉酶、尿淀粉酶恢复时间较对照组明显低,有显著性差异(P<0.05);实验组血清白蛋白升高较对照组明显高,有显著性差异(P<0.05);实验组感染率、病死率、并发症发生率较对照组明显低,但无显著差别(P>0.05);实验组住院时间、住院费用较对照组低,有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:早期肠内营养可以改善急性重症胰腺炎营养状况,缩短病程、减低感染率、病死率、并发症发生率、住院时间及住院费用。     

Prospective,randomised, double blind trial of prophylaxis with single dose of co-amoxiclav before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of antibacterial prophylaxis in preventing infectious complications after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.DesignProspective, randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, multicentre study.SettingDepartments of internal medicine at six German hospitals.SubjectsOf 106 randomised adult patients with dysphagia, 97 received study medication, and 84 completed the study. The median age of the patients was 65 years. Most had dysphagia due to malignant disease (65%), and many (76%) had serious comorbidity.InterventionsA single intravenous 2.2 g dose of co-amoxiclav or identical appearing saline was given 30 min before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy performed by the thread pull method.ResultsThe incidence of peristomal and other infections within one week after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was significantly reduced in the antibiotic group (8/41 (20%) v 28/43 (65%), P<0.001). Similar results were obtained in an intention to treat analysis. Several peristomal wound infections were of minor clinical significance. After wound infections that required no or only local treatment were excluded from the analysis, antibiotic prophylaxis remained highly effective in reducing clinically important wound infections (1/41 (2%) v 11/43 (26%), P<0.01) and non-wound infections (2 (5%) v 9 (21%), P<0.05).ConclusionsAntibiotic prophylaxis with a single dose of co-amoxiclav significantly reduces the risk of infectious complications after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and should be recommended.

Key messages

• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for enteral feeding can be associated with substantial rates of infectious complications, notably peristomal wound infection
• Small, single centre studies on prevention of wound infection by antibiotic prophylaxis have given conflicting results
• This prospective, randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, multicentre study showed that a single dose of 2.2 g co-amoxiclav significantly reduced the rate of infection
• The favourable effect of antibiotic prophylaxis included a reduction in the rate of clinically important peristomal wound infection
• Intention to treat analysis indicated a significant reduction in the need for therapeutic antibiotics

     

燕麦米汤对严重烧伤患者休克期肠道复苏的影响

目的：研究严重烧伤患者休克期经肠道给予燕麦米汤对肠道复苏的影响。方法：选取烧伤面积≥30%TBSA的患者42例,并随机分为：燕麦米汤组,伤后24h内开始经鼻肠管给予燕麦米汤;对照组,伤后24h内开始经鼻肠管给予50g/L葡萄糖盐水,连续4d,每组21例。在伤后1、2、3、4 d分别检测其血清二氨氧化酶（DAO）值及动脉血乳酸（LAC）含量,观察两组患者腹胀缓解时间、肠鸣音恢复时间等临床指标。结果：两组患者伤后血清二氨氧化酶及动脉血乳酸含量均呈下降趋势,燕麦米汤组血清二氨氧化酶在伤后2、3、4d显著低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而脉血乳酸含量在伤后2、3d显著低于对照组（P〈0.05或0.01）,治疗过程中燕麦米汤组其腹胀缓解时间、肠鸣音恢复时间、排气时间、开始完全肠内营养时间、继发感染例数均优于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：在严重烧伤休克期尽早鼻饲燕麦米汤能较好地促进肠道复苏。     

Gastrostomy in patients with prion disease

Patients with prion diseases can live for long periods of time in a state of akinetic mutism given appropriate management of their symptoms. To study symptom support in these cases, we performed gastrostomies on 3 patients with V180I genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) who had become akinetic and mute, and compared them to 14 other similar patients being fed by tube. In the 3 gastrostomy cases, there were no direct complications due to the gastrostomy or tube feeding, nor were there episodes of discontinuation of tube feeding or initiation of continuous drip infusion due to severe complications. Antibiotics were administered for mild infections, a complication of CJD, with 0.2% and 8.8% of the total time after gastrostomy being used for intravenous or transluminal administration, respectively. We compared the present patient series with that of our previous report statistically, and found that patients undergoing gastrostomy required significantly fewer discontinuations of tube feeding than those who did not. No significant difference in antibiotic administration was found between groups, however. It is our conclusion that gastrostomy should be allowed for symptom support in akinetic patients with prion disease, but adequate informed consent must be provided to the patient's family.     

不同营养支持方式对进展期胃癌术后病人临床结局比较

摘要目的：研究肠内营养、肠外营养、常规补液对胃癌术后患者临床结局的影响。方法：择我院住院治疗并行外科手术治疗的胃 癌患者183 例,随机分至肠内营养组、肠外营养组、常规补液组,分别行相应的营养支持治疗,比较三组患者术前/ 后1 天及术后 8 天体重、白蛋白、淋巴细胞计数的变化及术后并发症发生情况、营养支持费用、术后住院时间、总费用。结果：常规补液组术后第 8 天体重较术前1 天明显下降;肠内、肠外营养组患者体重下降幅度均明显低于常规补液组;肠内、肠外营养组术后第8 天白蛋白 水平升高显著,且明显高于常规补液组;肠内营养组患者术后第8 天淋巴细胞明显上升,且较常规补液组有明显升高。肠外营养 组、常规补液组患者肝功能损害、血脂升高、血糖升高的发生率均明显高于肠内营养组;肠外营养组患者肝功能损害、血脂升高发 生率明显低于常规补液组;肠内营养组患者切口腹腔感染及肺部感染的发生率均明显低于常规补液组。与常规补液组相比,肠 外、内营养组患者术后住院时间均明显缩短,肠内营养组患者总费用明显偏高;与肠外营养相比,肠内营养组、常规补液组营养支 持费用明显降低,肠内营养组患者总费用显著下降,上述差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：胃癌术后患者行肠内营养可大大 降低术后并发症的发生,并减少患者住院费用,缩短术后住院时间。     

不同营养支持方式对进展期胃癌术后病人临床结局比较

目的：研究肠内营养、肠外营养、常规补液对胃癌术后患者临床结局的影响。方法：择我院住院治疗并行外科手术治疗的胃癌患者183例,随机分至肠内营养组、肠外营养组、常规补液组,分别行相应的营养支持治疗,比较三组患者术前／后1天及术后8天体重、白蛋白、淋巴细胞计数的变化及术后并发症发生情况、营养支持费用、术后住院时间、总费用。结果：常规补液组术后第8天体重较术前1天明显下降;肠内、肠外营养组患者体重下降幅度均明显低于常规补液组;肠内、肠外营养组术后第8天白蛋白水平升高显著,且明显高于常规补液组;肠内营养组患者术后第8天淋巴细胞明显上升,且较常规补液组有明显升高。肠外营养组、常规补液组患者肝功能损害、血脂升高、血糖升高的发生率均明显高于肠内营养组;肠外营养组患者肝功能损害、血脂升高发生率明显低于常规补液组;肠内营养组患者切口腹腔感染及肺部感染的发生率均明显低于常规补液组。与常规补液组相比,肠外、内营养组患者术后住院时间均明显缩短,肠内营养组患者总费用明显偏高;与肠外营养相比,肠内营养组、常规补液组营养支持费用明显降低,肠内营养组患者总费用显著下降,上述差异均有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。结论：胃癌术后患者行肠内营养可大大降低术后并发症的发生,并减少患者住院费用,缩短术后住院时间。     

Nutritional Support for Patients Sustaining Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Background

In traumatic brain injury (TBI), the appropriate timing and route of feeding, and the efficacy of immune-enhancing formulae have not been well established. We performed this meta-analysis aiming to compare the effects of different nutritional support modalities on clinical outcomes of TBI patients.

Methods

We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until October, 2012. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized prospective studies (NPSs) that compared the effects of different routes, timings, or formulae of feeding on outcomes in TBI patients were selected. The primary outcomes included mortality and poor outcome. The secondary outcomes included the length of hospital stay, the length of ventilation days, and the rate of infectious or feeding-related complications.

Findings

13 RCTs and 3 NPSs were included. The pooled data demonstrated that, compared with delayed feeding, early feeding was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.24–0.50), poor outcome (RR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54–0.91), and infectious complications (RR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59–0.99). Compared with enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition showed a slight trend of reduction in the rate of mortality (RR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.34–1.09), poor outcome (RR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51–1.04), and infectious complications (RR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.66–1.22), whereas without statistical significances. The immune-enhancing formula was associated with a significant reduction in infection rate compared with the standard formula (RR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35–0.82). Small-bowel feeding was found to be with a decreasing rate of pneumonia compared with nasogastric feeding (RR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22–0.76).

Conclusion

After TBI, early initiation of nutrition is recommended. It appears that parenteral nutrition is superior to enteral nutrition in improving outcomes. Our results lend support to the use of small-bowel feeding and immune-enhancing formulae in reducing infectious complications.     

添加益生菌的早期滋养量肠内营养对 重症脑卒中患者呼吸机相关性肺炎的影响

目的探讨早期给予添加益生菌的滋养量肠内营养(EN)对重症脑卒中患者呼吸机相关性肺炎(VAP)的影响。方法选择2015年10月1日至2017年10月1日我院神经内科收治的接受鼻饲饮食及机械通气的重症脑卒中患者56例,随机分为对照组和观察组各28例。对照组患者在入院48h内给予早期肠内营养支持治疗,观察组在对照组基础上常规给予双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片鼻饲,并给予滋养量肠内营养支持治疗(起始量10～20mL鼻饲低速泵入)。比较两组患者治疗后肠内营养达标时间、肠内营养并发症发生率、营养状态指标、炎症因子水平、呼吸机相关性肺炎发生率、脱机成功率及病死率。结果治疗后,观察组患者腹胀、腹泻、应激性高血糖发生率较低,肠内营养达标时间较短。同时观察组患者血清白蛋白、前白蛋白、淋巴细胞计数均高于对照组,血WBC、CRP、PCT水平均低于对照组。观察组患者脱机成功率相对较高,呼吸机相关性肺炎发生率相对较低。观察组患者GCS评分、APACHEⅡ评分及病死率相对较低,但差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论早期给予添加益生菌的滋养量肠内营养有助于提高患者肠内营养的耐受性,改善患者营养状态,降低炎性因子水平,有助于减少呼吸机相关性肺炎发生率。     

Is nasogastric suction necessary in acute pancreatitis?

Fifty-eight patients with mild to moderately severe acute pancreatitis were randomly allocated to treatment with or without nasogastric suction (27 and 31 patients respectively). Intravenous fluids and pethidine hydrochloride were also given. The two groups were comparable clinically at the start of the study. There were no differences between the two groups in the mean duration of the following features: abdominal pain or tenderness; absence of bowel movements; raised serum amylase concentration; time to resumption of oral feeding; and days in hospital. Prolonged hyperamylasaemia (serum amylase greater than 0.33 mU/l) occurred in one patient in the suction group and in three patients in the non-suction group. A mild recurrence of abdominal pain after resumption of oral feeding occurred in three patients in the suction group and in two patients in the non-suction group. Two patients in the suction group developed overt consumption coagulopathy and two others pulmonary complications. No patient in the non-suction group had complications. The findings suggest that most patients with mild to moderately severe acute pancreatitis do not benefit from nasogastric suction. The procedure should be elective rather than mandatory in treating this condition.     

Effects of long-term elemental nasogastric feeding on elderly debilitated patients

The effects of a liquid elemental diet on nine patients requiring nasogastric tube feeding because of severe dysphagia were studied. A casein based feeding served as a control. The elemental diet was given over a 12-week period except in the case of one man who expired after nine weeks from causes unrelated to the diet.The feeding was well tolerated by the digestive tract. Satisfactory nutrition appeared to be maintained as indicated by weight gain, stable hemoglobin, serum total protein and albumin values, and normal healing of pressure sores. BUN levels decreased significantly. Uric acid levels increased but remained within normal limits. Pancreatic function was unaffected clinically and from the postmortem findings of the man who died, pancreatic morphology was normal. Fasting blood sugars, serum electrolytes, hematocrit, bleeding, clotting and prothrombin times, and platelet counts were normal.