[Intensive treatment in family medicine : use of pumps and continuous glucose measurement systems]. / Traitements intensifs en médecine de famille : usage de pompes et systèmes de mesure en continu du glucose.

New technologic devices are presented: insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices as well as morphine pumps to help general practitioners to deal different intensive situations. Insulin pumps and CGM devices are revolutionary for the management of diabetes. However, their use requires strong patient involvement, the opposite of automated diabetes management. Morphine pumps are a great help when patients in end-of-life stage cannot swallow oral morphine anymore. This article summarizes the main principles of use of these technological devices, common problems and situations at risk primary care practice.

Les dispositifs technologiques font partie de la médecine actuelle. Les pompes à insuline, la mesure en continu du glucose (MCG) ainsi que les pompes à morphine sont présentées ici pour aider le médecin de famille à gérer ces différentes situations intensives. Les pompes à insuline externes et la MCG ont révolutionné la prise en charge du diabète sucré. Pourtant, leur utilisation demande une forte implication du patient, soit l'opposé d'une gestion automatisée du diabète. Les pompes à morphine sont une grande aide lorsque le patient en fin de vie ne peut plus avaler de comprimés ou lorsque l'absorption orale est aléatoire. Cet article résume les principes de fonctionnement de ces dispositifs technologiques, les problématiques communes et les situations à risque pour la pratique du médecin de premier recours.

Prescription and indication for oral nutritional supplements in a Swiss university hospital: a prospective survey.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Patients with an acute or chronically negative nutritional balance are at nutritional risk. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are simple and effective medical treatments of nutritional risk. In the ambulatory setting, in Switzerland, ONS are reimbursed by public insurance under conditions defined by Swiss Society for Clinical Nutrition. The reimbursement requires a medical prescription for ONS and their delivery at the patient's home by a homecare service. The indication for the ONS, defined as a Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002) score ≥3, must also be present. This survey aimed to document: (i) the existence of a medical prescription for ONS during hospitalisation and discharge for home, (ii) the adequacy of the indication for ONS during hospitalisation and at discharge for home, and (iii) the continuation or not of ONS treatment 1 month after discharge for home. METHODS: This prospective survey included adult patients hospitalised in the departments of surgery, medicine or rehabilitation and who were about to receive ONS for the first time. Patients already on ONS, with major consciousness disorders, who refused to take ONS or to participate to the survey were excluded. The existence of a medical prescription for ONS and the adequacy of the indication (Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 [NRS-2002] score ≥3) were evaluated at first ONS delivery and at hospital discharge. At home, the continuation of ONS consumption was evaluated by the homecare service 1 month after discharge. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation or frequencies and percentages, and comparisons between patients with and without ONS at discharge for home. RESULTS: A total of 416 patients (age 71.7 ± 14.1 yr, 52.6% male, body mass index 23.6 ± 5.2 kg/m2) were included. At the first delivery of ONS, 44.5% (n = 185) of patients had no medical prescription for the supplements, and 82.7% (n = 344) had an NRS-2002 score ≥3. Out of 207 patients discharged for home, only 24.2% (n = 50) had an adequate homecare ONS prescription and 68% (n = 141) had a NRS-2002 score ≥3. One month after discharge for home, 76% (n = 29) were still taking ONS. CONCLUSIONS: In our survey, only few patients receiving ONS during the hospital stay had a medical prescription for ONS during the hospitalisation and at discharge for home. For most patients receiving ONS during hospitalisation and at discharge for home, an NRS-2002 score of ≥3 was present. If a medical prescription was provided, ONS were generally continued one month after discharge for home. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02476110.

Physical characteristics of total parenteral nutrition bags significantly affect the stability of vitamins C and B1: a controlled prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin degradation occurring during the storage of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) mixtures is significant and affects clinical outcome. This study aimed to assess the influence of the TPN bag material, the temperature, and the duration of storage on the stability of different vitamins. METHODS: Solutions of multivitamin and trace elements at recommended doses were injected into either an ethylvinyl acetate (EVA) bag or a multilayered (ML) bag filled with 2500 mL of an identical mixture of carbohydrates (1200 kcal), fat (950 kcal), and amino acids (380 kcal). The bags were then stored at 4 degrees C, 21 degrees C, or 40 degrees C. Concentrations of vitamins A, B1, C, and E were measured up to 72 hours after compounding, using high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Ten percent to 30% of vitamin C degradation occurred within the first minutes after TPN compounding. Vitamin C was more stable in ML bags (half-life: 68.6 hours at 4 degrees C, 24.4 hours at 21 degrees C, and 6.8 hours at 40 degrees C) than in EVA bags (half-life: 7.2 hours at 4 degrees C, 3.2 hours at 21 degrees C, and 1.1 hour at 40 degrees C). Moreover, appearance of dehydroascorbic acid in the TPN mixture did not compensate for vitamin C losses. Vitamin B1 was stable at 21 degrees C, but a 43% loss occurred at 40 degrees C after 72-hour storage in EVA bags. The other vitamins were stable in the TPN mixture stored in both bags at any temperature and without daylight protection. CONCLUSIONS: Degradations of vitamins C and B, are significantly reduced in ML bags compared with EVA bags. To prevent vitamin C deficiencies, its initial dose should be adapted to its degradation rate, which depends on the TPN bag material, the ambient temperature, and the length of time between TPN compounding and the end of infusion to the patient.