David L. Burns

Reversal of Parenteral Nutrition–Associated Liver Disease With a Fish Oil–Based Lipid Emulsion (Omegaven) in an Adult Dependent on Home Parenteral Nutrition

Patients with intestinal failure and short bowel syndrome usually require chronic parenteral nutrition (PN). PN is associated with risks, including infections, vascular thrombosis, and liver disease. PN-associated liver disease (PNALD) can progress from steatosis to chronic hepatitis and ultimately to cirrhosis. The etiology of PNALD is not completely understood. Therapies for PNALD include carbohydrate or lipid calorie reduction, antibiotics, or the use of ursodeoxycholic acid. When these efforts fail, therapeutic options are limited and liver transplantation may be required. The transition from a soybean- to a fish oil-based lipid formulation, such as the ω-3 parenteral lipid formulation (Omegaven), has shown a dramatic reversal of PNALD within the pediatric population. This is the first report of a PN-dependent adult in the United States complicated by PNALD and hepatic failure who had improvement of liver disease with an ω-3 fish oil-based parenteral formulation.

Effect of iron-supplemented total parenteral nutrition in patients with iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is common among hospitalized patients, and blood losses from diagnostic phlebotomy increase the likelihood of a negative iron balance. The role for iron supplementation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in these patients is unclear. Twenty-three patients with iron deficiency anemia were identified. Twelve patients were randomized to receive TPN without iron (group 1) and 11 received TPN supplemented with 10 mg of iron as iron dextran daily (group 2). Both groups were matched for age, serum iron studies, red cell indices, and hemogram. After a 7-d period, the mean serum iron in group 2 increased from 10 to 26 micrograms/dL, with an increased transferrin saturation from 7.3 to 15.3% (each, p < 0.05). No changes in total iron binding capacity, ferritin, reticulocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, or mean corpuscular volume were observed in the two groups. The incidence of infectious complications was not different between both groups. We conclude that iron supplementation of TPN appears safe and is effective in increasing serum iron levels. The use of iron-supplemented short-term TPN needs to be further studied given no change in red cell indices, hemoglobin, hematocrit, or transfusion requirement.

Successful Algorithm for Selective Liver Biopsy in the Right Hepatic Lobe Live Donor (RHLD)

Routine versus selective predonation liver biopsy (LBx) remains controversial for assuring the safety of right hepatic lobe live donor (RHLD). Between December 1999 and March 2007, 403 potential RHLD were evaluated; 142 donated. Indications for selective LBx were: abnormal liver function tests or imaging studies, body mass index (BMI)>28, history of substance abuse or family history of immune mediated liver disease. All donors had a LBx at the time of surgery. Of 403 potential RLD, 149(36.9%) were accepted as donors, 25(6.3%) had their recipient receive a deceased donor graft, 94(23.4%) were rejected, 52(12.9%) stopped the evaluation process, 76(18.8%) withdrew from the process and 7(1.7%) are currently completing evaluation. Eighty‐seven (21.5%) met criteria and were biopsied. Seventy‐three (83.9%) had either normal (n = 24) or macrosteatosis <10%(n = 49); 51 of these donated. Abnormal LBx eliminated 15 potential donors. No significant abnormalities were found in donation biopsies of donors not meeting algorithm criteria. Three of 87 (3.4%) had complications requiring overnight admission (2 for pain, 1 for bleeding; transfusion not required). Use of this algorithm resulted in 78% of potential donors avoiding biopsy and potential complications. No significant liver pathology was identified in donors not meeting criteria for evaluation LBx. Routine predonation LBx is unnecessary in potential RHLD.

Supplementation of Arachidonic Acid Plus Docosahexaenoic Acid in Cirrhotic Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation: A Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND In patients with cirrhotic liver diseases, supplementation of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid often does not alter the levels of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), suggesting the necessity to directly provide these nutrients. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion, 9 cirrhotic patients listed for liver transplantation at Lahey Clinic Center were given daily supplementation with either 10 gel caps containing 500 mg of AA and 1000 mg of DHA (AA/DHA) or 250 mg of linolenic acid (LA) and 125 mg of oleic acid (OA; OA/LA) for 6 weeks. alpha-Tocopherol at 200 IU was provided daily. No other dietary prescription was made. Plasma fatty acid profiles were determined in triglyceride and phospholipids fractions. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and soluble TNF receptor II (sTNFRII) were also measured. RESULTS Four patients receiving OA/LA and 5 patients receiving AA/DHA completed the study without evidence of any adverse effects or intolerance. The supplementation of LA, AA, and DHA effectively raised their levels in either one or both plasma lipid fractions in this limited number of subjects. DHA plus AA also lowered 22:4omega-6, 22:5omega-6, and 22:5omega-3, suggesting that DHA reduced the elongation and desaturation of AA and EPA. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible to improve the liver disease-associated deficiency of AA or DHA with modest intakes of AA and DHA. Whether this maneuver will affect the systemic inflammatory responsiveness and ultimately clinical outcome will require a large-scale and well-controlled intervention.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis. Tackling a tenacious nosocomial infection.

PREVIEW Antibiotic-associated colitis caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile is one of the most common nosocomial infections. In this article, Drs Joyce and Burns explore the conditions that allow C difficile colitis to occur and the reasons that it is so difficult to eradicate. They suggest treatment methods to kill vegetative spores, restore normal colonic flora, and avoid the development of bacterial resistance.

Conservative management of small bowel perforation in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders caused by collagen synthesis defects. EDS type IV, or vascular EDS, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the type III pro-collagen gene (COL3A1). Common complications of EDS type IV include gastrointestinal bleeding and bowel perforations, posing diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas for both surgeons and gastroenterologists. Here, we describe a complicated case of EDS type IV in a 35-year-old caucasian female who presented with overt gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient had a prior history of spontaneous colonic perforation, and an uncomplicated upper endoscopy was performed. A careful ileoscopy was terminated early due to tachycardia and severe abdominal pain, and a subsequent computed tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis of ileal perforation. The patient was managed conservatively, and demonstrated daily improvement. At the time of hospital discharge, no further episodes of gastrointestinal blood loss had occurred. This case highlights the benefit of conservative management for EDS patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It is recommended that surgical treatment should be reserved for patients who fail conservative treatment or in cases of hemodynamic instability. Finally, this case demonstrates the necessity for a higher threshold of operative or endoscopic interventions in EDS type IV patients.

Nutrition Support in Intensive Care

Nutritional support of the critically ill patient is an important aspect of medical care and universally applicable to all hospitalized patients. Malnutrition is prevalent in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and can impair vital organ function, depress immune status, prolong ventilator dependence, and increase infection and mortality rates.1–4 In surgical patients, a preoperative weight loss of greater than 10% of usual body weight has been associated with increased postoperative complications such as pneumonia, wound infection, longer length of stay, and increased mortality5–7 The goal of nutritional support in the critically ill patient is to support wound healing and immune function, and prevent malnutrition and its comorbid consequences. Meeting the elevated nutritional requirements of critically ill patients while avoiding the metabolic complications can be difficult. This chapter addresses the many challenges of feeding the SICU patient and provides guidelines for safe and effective nutritional support.