Nutrición parenteral domiciliaria: complicaciones y calidad de vida / Home parenteral nutrition: complications and quality of life

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study evaluates the septic, thrombotic and hepatic complications and also the quality of life of patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Methods: We studied 22 patients, aged 50 ±15 yr (m ± SD), catheterization time of 18 698 days on HPN, followed in our hospital from January 1986 to July 2003. The principal etiologies of the intestinal failure were radiation enteritis and ischemic bowel. Quality of life was assessed by the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and the Karnofsky Index (KI). Results: The infection rate was 0.41/100 catheter days, the majority due to coagulase negative Staphylococcus (61%). In 32% of the cases the catheter was removed. The occlusion rate was 0.04/100 catheter days. Five patients had an increase in transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, and two patients developed cholestasis during HPN. Three patients died of HPN-related causes. The results of the quality of life analysis showed it was moderately affected, with SIP scores of 14.6 ± 3,5 and KI results of 70 ± 20 (m ± SD). Conclusions: Home parenteral nutrition allows a greater survival in cases of intestinal failure. The most frequent complication is the catheter infection. Our results of the quality of life analysis revealed that it was moderately affected in most cases.