[Balanced parenteral nutrition following total pancreatectomy. (Metabolic data)]

The replacement of components of normal metabolism getting lost during operation is an important problem for the clinician. On the basis of a case of total pancreatectomy because of carcinoma of the pancreas this essential problem for the postoperative treatment is demonstrated. After control of the predominant metabolic parameters of the patient over a relatively long postoperative period, we want to formulate our conclusion as follows: In spite of the massive surgery we found only relatively small destruction of the patient's metabolic system. The evident variations in blood sugar level were probably caused by the often changing kinds of nutrition (the patient having been some weeks at home). As the most distinctive sign of a well performed therapy we regard the results of the daily weight control. In spite of the heavy physical stress over many months we could stabilize the patient's body weight after a short postoperative loss.