A pilot study to determine the cost efficiency of a standard parenteral feeding regimen

This pilot study was initiated to investigate methods designed to reduce the cost of a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimen. Seven patients at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh (WGH) were placed on a standard modified TPN regimen where the total fat, nitrogen and energy content of the regimen was reduced. The nutritional status of each patient was monitored prior to and on completion of TPN. Five out of seven patients lost weight. All of the patients exhibited a rise in plasma alkaline phosphate levels demonstrating possible fatty infiltration of the liver. It is concluded that further research is required to test if there is an ideal 'standard' regimen. It may be that such an entity does not exist and a compromise of two regimens may be necessary.