[Comparison of peripheral parenteral feeding with an exclusively carbohydrate diet during the postoperative period]

40 patients, who underwent abdominal surgical procedures, received 3 different types of peripheral-venous postoperative infusions. Two groups had peripheral parenteral nutrition with different amounts of amino acid substitution, whereas a comparable group only received carbohydrates and electrolytes with same energy content. Regarding plasma proteins there was no evident difference among the various groups. In all patients, however, we found a significant decrease of protein-levels in the early postoperative period indicating a malnutrition at this time. Supply of amino acids had a significant positive effect on nitrogen balance. Utilisation of added protein theoretically came up to 65-70%. Therefore postoperative peripheral parenteral nutrition should be preferred.