[Parameters of catabolism during long-term postoperative parenteral feeding]

In 26 adult patients of an intensive-care ward, the following parameters were controlled for 26 to 35 days under postoperative parenteral feeding: prealbumin, transferrin, and retinol-binding protein, the immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG, total serum protein, Hb content, body-weight and urinary nitrogen elimination. In the early phase and also in the 2nd to 4th postoperative week, prealbumin and transferrin are apparently good indicators for the existence of a catabolic or anabolic metabolic condition.