Objectives: Some of hospitalized ill patients are usually enteral feeding (EF) intolerant due to many causes. In these case scenarios, total or partial parenteral nutrition (PN) may save life if it takes appropriately. Intravenous fat emulsions (IFEs) is a major component of total or partial PN due to its unique dual physiological action in providing calories and essential fat acids. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of using IFE intermittently (Group I) versus daily (Group II).
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who were EF intolerant. Patients were excluded if they discharged or died before completing at least 1 week of TPN.All patient’s continuous variables were expressed as mean± SD by using the independent samples T-test while categorical variables were expressed as numbers with percentages by using χ2 test.
Results: The mean overall age was 58.37±9.95 years and 224 (68.7%) patients were male. The changes in albumin level (∆ALB)was significantly higher in Group II than Group I (1.49±0.89 g/dl vs 0.71±0.78 g/dl).The cost to increase ALB by 1 g/dl was also significantly lower in Group II than Group I (47.27±20.10 US $ vs 122.85±51.07 US $). The hospital Length of stay (LOS) and overall 28-day hospital mortality were significantly lower in Group II compared with Group I (14.05±1.71 days and 19.51% vs 16.01±2.57 days and 32.09%).
Conclusion: In summary, daily IFE including in TPN rather than intermittently has a significant clinical and economic positive impacts without significant increasing risk of bloodstream infection (BSI) and hypertriglyceridemia.
