[The methodology of quality control in parenteral nutrition. I. The application of a program in patient selection]

The establishing of indications for parenteral nutrition and the evaluation criteria for the nutritional state of patients used in selecting the candidates for parenteral nutrition are the two main pillars upon which the rationalization of nutritional therapy iv is based. This is an important aspect which conditions the quality of therapeutics. The aim of this study is to apply a quality control programme in the process of selecting candidates for parenteral nutrition. The programme was applied retrospectively to 148 patients. The following parameters were evaluated as quality indicators, based on criteria and standards: "Indications", "Clinical Justification", "Evaluation of the Nutritional State at the commencement of PN", and "Administration of Albumin". The degree of compliance obtained for each of these indicators (100; 87.4; 88.0 and 93.9% respectively) showed no statistically significant difference from the previous standards (100, 80, 80 and 100 respectively). The quality control results obtained have permitted us to select the right candidate for PN, and is a useful tool for improving this therapy through the establishing of new objectives.