Goals: The purpose of the study was to analyze the quality of the prescription and follow-up of the total parenteral nutrition (PNT) before and after the incorporation of a nutritional support team (NST).
Material and methods: A random sample of 96 patients was selected retrospectively, with 48 prior to the incorporation of the NST (the Non-NST group) and 48 after its incorporation (the NST group), to whom TPN was prescribed. The following points were assessed: 1. The existence of a minimum analytical and nutritional assessment, prior to the incorporation of TPN; 2. The follow-up of the same.
Results: The average duration of TPN per patient was 13.8 days without differences between the two groups. There is a written record of the weight and height in 15% and 10% of cases, respectively, in the Non-NST group as opposed to 100% and 99% in the NST group (p < 0.0001). Prior to the incorporation of the NST, the nutritional requirement was not verified in any patients (0%) as opposed to 97% afterwards. Statistically significant differences were detected in the measurement of albumin prior to the start of TPN (p < 0.01). During the analytical follow-up, statistically significant differences were detected in the measurement of: blood tests (p < 0.05); basic biochemistry (p < 0.01); general biochemistry, magnesium, zinc, pre-albumin, transferrin and nitrogen balance (p < 0.0001). In the TPN follow-up, the Non-NST group did not change any of the components contained in it (in terms of volume, macro or micronutrients) in 81% of patients, while 17% had one change and 2% had 2 or more changes, as opposed to 27%, 42% and 31%, respectively in the NST group (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in metabolic complications between the two groups.
Conclusions: The implementation of a nutritional support team in charge of the prescription and follow-up of TPN has notably improved the quality of these follow-up studies.