[Hyperammonemia during parenteral nutrition of intensive-care patients]

Metabolic features of parenteral feeding with conventional amino acid solutions were examined in 47 patients over a long period. 30 patients were kept alive by artificial respiration. The metabolic parameters ammonium, blood urea nitrogen, GOT, alkaline phosphatase were carried out, in 6 patients the pattern of amino acids was analysed. All patients showed a significant increase of ammonium during the course of parenteral feeding. The amino acids demonstrated pattern of imbalance. The other other parameters were not changed significantly. Traumatic, hypoxic or toxic liver damage might influence the reduction of liver function.