[Complications of TPN in gastrointestinal surgery patients]

Retrospective study of a group of 77 patients subjected to gastrointestinal surgery, who received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) during the postoperative period, During the evolution of the nutrition, 76 cases with technical complications arose, one case of sepsis, 10 cases of metabolic complications and one patient with haematological complications (acute medular failure). Although a higher percentage of metabolic and haematological alterations not requiring medical or surgical treatment for correction was observed, these were indicative of the tendencies of the metabolic and haematological states of the patients. An analysis was also made of the variance, observing a direct relationship between the components of TPN and the variations of the metabolic and haematological values studied, However, these values did not correlate with the number of days during which the patients was on nutrition, and thus the technique and guidelines for administration are the most important factors which determine the presence or absence of complications during TPN.