Nitrogen-calorie ratio during total parenteral nutrition in 1001 surgical patients treated in intensive care unit

Nitrogen-calorie (non-nitrogen) ratio during total parenteral nutrition in 1001 successive surgical patients treated in intensive care unit of Tampere Central Hospital over two and a half years was studied. The mortal was three percent in the patients (N = 222) needing only intensive observation, seven per cent in the group (N = 544) needing intensive treatment and 54 per cent in the patients needing intensive therapy (N = 287). Complete parenteral nutrition was only one aspect of the total intensive treatment and it was fulfilled in harmony with the other forms of treatment to safe the life of these critically ill patients. Thus e.g. the clinical status, blood circulation, respiratory function, renal function, blood gas, blood glucose concentration, diuresis and excretion of urea were followed. Complete parenteral nutrition by 15 per cent fructose-glucose solution, 20 per cent fat emulsion (Intralipid), and/or aminoacid solution (Levamin forte, 1000 ml = 11 grams amino-nitrogen and 400 kcal) was given to 87.6 per cent of the patients for 3717 days of treatment. The results showed that nitrogen-calorie ratio during total parenteral nutrition in 1001 surgical patients treated in intensive care unit was 1:125, indicating a low amount of energy given for each gram of administered nitrogen. The nitrogen-calorie ratio for the patients who needed only intensive observation, intensive treatment or intensive therapy were: 1:112, 1:130 or 1:121, respectively.