Home Parenteral Nutrition in Treatment of Severe Radiation Enteritis

Abstract

Ten patients with radiation enteritis [from cancer treatment] unresponsive to conventional medical and surgical therapy were put on long-term parenteral nutrition at home. Six of the patients are alive at home; 4 patients died, 2 from recurrent cancer. Some of the patients were able to resume oral intake, but none were able to discontinue parenteral nutrition. Fistulas healed or had a marked decrease in output. Two patients in this series were given prednisone and sulfasalazine without significant benefit, in contrast to previously reported clinical improvement of radiation enteritis with this therapy.