Abstract
Background: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is widely used in Pediatrics, specially in patients who cannot be fed enterally. However, PN has been associated with an increase risk of physicochemical alterations and clinical complications in patients.
Objectives: Compare national PN prescription in relation to international recommendations for children and evaluate the influence of some environmental conditions that may affect its stability.
Method: 99 PN administered during 24 h, were randomly selected among those delivered to children hospitalized in Pediatric and Neonatal Units in Hospital San Borja Arriarán and Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna at Santiago-Chile. The nutrients provided in relation to recommendations, changes in appearance (direct observation), changes in pH (pHmeter) and 24-hr environmental temperatures were evaluated.
Results: PN prescriptions were in accordance with nutritional recommendations. Wide variations in materials used for PN were observed in each Hospital and Pediatric Unit. Furthermore, environmental temperatures were greater in the Neonatal Units (28,1 ± 1,7 ºC) than in the Pediatric Units (26,5 ± 1,4 ºC), with no evident association with PN unstability.
Conclusions: Parenteral nutrition in public hospitals fulfil the nutrient recommendations. There is no uniformity among Pediatric Hospitals and Units regarding materials used for PN administration. Improvements in national clinical guidelines for parenteral nutrition are required, especially in relation to materials and environmental conditions.
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Copyright (c) 2007 Revista Chilena de Pediatría