[The behavior of free serum amino acids and their urinary excretion after major abdominal surgery]

32 patients with major abdominal surgery received parenteral nutrition with 360 g carbohydrate mixture (levulose: glucose: xylitol = 2:1:1)/24 hours and 1000 ml of a 10% L-amino acid mixture (potato-egg-pattern)/24 hours. Daily nitrogen balances were balanced or slightly negative. Daily we determined serum amino acid concentration; essential amino acid levels were normal. Of non-essential amino acid levels glutamine acid and aspartic acid were elevated. Amino acid loss in urine was 0.2 to 3%, only tryptophan and histidine were excreted in 6.6 and 7.0%.