[Clinical aspects of long-term parenteral alimentation in the "short intestine syndrome". Clinical case]

A case of malabsorption syndrome (organic wasting, hypokaliaemia, metabolic acidosis, diarrhoea, hypochromic anaemia) following removal of 4 m of ileus for thrombophlebitis of the mesentery is described. In the first seven months, the patient was hospitalised five times to correct these imbalances by means of PA, with repeated venous incannulation. PA was continued at home each evening, together with heparin therapy (25,000 U calcic heparin/day). The patient later died following the appearance of serious venous thrombosis. The question of this complication and its prevention is discussed.