Abnormal liver function during nutritional support in postoperative cancer patients

Patients who receive total intravenous or nasogastric nutritional support after surgery for head and neck cancer show abnormalities of liver function. Twenty such patients were maintained in positive nitrogen balance. Serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase values were increased in 15 and 18 cases respectively. Possible causes for the abnormalities are discussed and further investigations proposed.