Retrospective study of parenteral nutrition for patients with advanced cancer and malignant bowel obstruction

In patients with advanced cancer and malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), the average survival varies between four and nine weeks. Parenteral nutrition (PN) may improve survival of these patients. A retrospective study at the University of Chicago Medicine included 68 MBO patients discharged on home PN. The median survival after start of PN was 142 days (IQR 63.3-239.5). Patients experienced a median number of two hospital readmissions (range 0-10) and spent a median of 29 days (range 0-105) in the hospital. Eighteen patients (26.5%) developed a catheter-related bloodstream infection. The authors conclude that the use of PN in MBO patients is a practice that needs improvement.