[Review and prospect of parenteral nutrition support for burn patients in China]

Parenteral nutrition support for burn injury in China began to develop in 1970s along with improvement in burn foundational research of burn injury and the marketing of parenteral nutrition solutions manufactured by Chinese amino acids pharmaceutical industry. Up to 1980s many kinds of parenteral nutrition products were used in clinical therapy, and they were proved to be effective and safe. Meanwhile the guide for parenteral nutrition support of China was drafted to ensure standardized administration. Some problems should be called for attention in present practice of parenteral nutrition support. First, immuno nutrients have been proved to possess synergistic effect on parenteral/enteral nutrition support. But for those critical patients in sepsis/MODS period, more attention should be paid to the use of immuno nutrients in time of administration and optimal dosage because of the complicate physiopathologic reactions. Secondly, the use of growth hormone has been proved to be effective for promoting healing in patients with burn in many cases. However, the indications of growth hormone should be strictly observed and the regime of a low dose and short course should be adopted 7 days after burn for ensuring safety. Thirdly, we should pay attention to the best path of giving nutrition, whether enteral or parenteral. Parenteral nutrition support should be adopted for critical burn patients in early period with intestinal dysfunction, and enteral nutrition support should be used when intestinal functions recover partially. For patients with burn hypermetabolism, the application of enteral and parenteral nutrition support is complimentary, and it is aptly called total nutrition.