[Parenteral feeding of infants with prolonged diarrhea and intolerance to monosaccharides]

The study in 14 patients with severe and protracted infectious gastroenteritis is reported. In all cases, intolerance to monosaccharides was present and in 13 cases, third degree malnutrition was evident. The period of evolution of the diarrhea was, as an average, 67.6 days at the moment when parenteral feeding was initiated. Eight of the cases had shown sepsis, intestinal pneumatosis and hypoglycemia in six and gastrointestinal hemorrhage was found in another six patients. They were managed with parenteral feeding for an average period of 21.5 days, during which, they gained an average of 14.6 g/day. Six episodes of sepsis were seen during the procedure, but in no case did it follow infection through the central catheter. Four of the patients died, but in no case was there any direct relationship to the procedure. In this type of severely ill patients with protracted diarrhea, parenteral feeding is a resource that allows the defunctionalization of the intestine and recovery of these patients.