[Progression in 25 years of artificial nutrition in surgery]

The Authors illustrate the fundamental steps of development of artificial nutrition (AN) during the last 25 years. In this period AN has been extensively experimented with and applied clinically, as total parenteral nutrition as well as enteral nutrition. The indications for artificial nutrition have been characterised and numerous experimental and clinical studies have been carried out to document the effects of nutritional support in surgical patients. The results of such studies have entranced our knowledge of nutritional pathophysiology and have brought about better methods for AN in surgery. As a result, surgical complications in malnourished patients have been significantly reduced by means of artificial nutritional support.