[Long-term home parenteral nutrition using a totally implanted cannulation system]

Abstract

A 29-year-old patient suffering from stenosis of the rectum and a periproctal fistula due to a severe form of Crohn's disease was completely fed by the parenteral route for 15 months, incl. 13 months at home, via a totally implanted cannula system Implantofix, Braun Co.. The patient felt throughout the period of parenteral nutrition very well, he worked and the secretion from the fistula stopped after four weeks. After 15 months of complete parenteral nutrition and elimination of oral food intake a marked improvement of the local finding in the rectum was observed. All laboratory findings (haemogram, liver tests, urea, creatinine, transferrin, albumin, cholinesterase and pre-albumin, serum levels of sodium, potassium, chlorides, calcium and phosphates) were throughout the observation period within a normal range. The body weight of the patient increased during the 15 months by 1 kg. The described case is the first one where domiciliary parenteral nutrition was used in Czechoslovakia under ambulatory conditions.