[Nutritional support to establish refeeding in a patient with acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease - a...

A patient with acute myeloid leukemia having acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)was provided nutritional support. Oral intake was not permitted owing to the gastrointestinal injury induced by aGVHD. Our goal was to achieve oral feeding by the time of discharge. The initial aim in reinitiating eating was to stimulate intestinal adaptation to the mucosal injury. Via total parenteral nutrition(TPN), the patient was provided food in the form of a semisolid jelly, which passed through the intestinal tract slowly. After interviewing the patient and ascertaining that no complications had arisen owing to eating, a regular diet was initiated. Considering the unstable nature of the gastrointestinal condition and the associated long-term hospitalization, it is important to ensure that the meal contents comply with the patient's taste, while considering the patients'uneasiness and fear of progress to oral intake. It is difficult to predict improvement of aGVHD. Therefore, it is essential that patients are offered meals via TPN, suitable to their intestinal condition and mental status.