Parenteral nutrition for patients with severe cardiac illness

Abstract

In patients with compromised cardiac function, the regular use of intravenous solutions of any composition is a mainstay of modern patient care. The obvious hazard confronting physicians caring for this group of patients is the uncertainty regarding sodium and water metabolism which precludes a “laissez-faire” attitude when predicting the total fluid balance of these patients, since the onset of fluid overload and congestive heart failure can occur rapidly. When this major consideration is added to the difficulties in providing adequate nutritional substrate in the form of calories, nitrogen, minerals and electrolytes, it is obvious that to accept the challenge of providing total parenteral nutrition in such patients is to tackle a complex, but feasible therapeutic goal.