[Fatty emulsions in parenteral feeding following liver transplantation. A study of the neurotropic effect of MCT/LCT emulsions using EEG]

Abstract

In the early postoperative period after liver transplantation a possible neurotropic side effect of middle-chain triglycerides used for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was evaluated by EEG and Glasgow Coma Scale. Group I: no fat for TPN; Group II: 0.7 g/kg body weight (BW) and day, of MCT/LCT emulsion; Group III: 1.5 g/kg BW and day, of MCT/LCT emulsion. Only on postoperative day 5/6 significant differences in distribution of background activity in the EEG were seen between Group I and II. Patients in Group I showed more pathological EEG patterns (Mann-Whitney-U-test p less than 0.05). Per discriminant analysis an influence of applicated fatty acids on the registered background activity could be excluded. Instead an underlying rejection of the graft in 7 of 10 patients could be made responsible for deterioration of the EEG pattern. Following the presented data a negative neurotropic effect of MCT/LCT emulsions in the described dosages can be negated.