Pharmacist interventions improve fluid balance in fluid-restricted patients requiring parenteral nutrition

Many intensive care unit (ICU) patients require parenteral nutrition (PN) and fluid restriction, making delivery of adequate nutrition difficult. We studied the effects of pharmacist interventions on fluid balance in fluid-restricted ICU patients requiring PN. Twenty patients were randomized to the treatment group (dextrose 70% injection [D70W] plus 15% amino acids for PN, 25-mL piggybacks, selected drugs added to the PN solution) or the control group (D70W plus 10% amino acids, 50- or 100-mL piggybacks). Each group contained 10 patients and they were not significantly different for age, gender, weight, hospital days, and serum albumin concentration. The duration (9.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 9.7 +/- 2.4 d) and doses of PN (29 +/- 6.8 vs. 28.7 +/- 6.9 kcal/kg/d; 1.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.4 g/kg/d protein) were similar between treatment and control groups. Mean fluid intake (3112 +/- 1146 vs. 3498 +/- 1111 mL/d), fluid balance (146 +/- 1581 vs. 708 +/- 1402 mL/d), and cumulative fluid balance (1358 vs. 6867 mL) were all significantly lower in the treatment group. Mean fluid output was similar between the two groups. Pharmacist interventions can significantly decrease intake and result in a better fluid balance in fluid-restricted ICU patients who require PN.