[Ethanol in parenteral feeding and its effect on liver metabolism]

Investigations of the leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) as a dimension for a damage of the liver cells under ethanol infusion did not show any damage of the liver parenchyma with a slow infusion velocity and a limited ethanol quantity (25 g daily). Since especially in the postoperative phase a sufficient caloric nutrition improves the therapeutic results, one could make use of the possibility of ethanol supply. This is mainly recommendable for patients who should demand only a small infusion volume or such a one which should not carry a high quantity of sugar (for instance diabetics). The parenteral ethanol application in the postoperative phase is frequently indicated for the immobilisation of alcoholics.