Intravenous Protein Alimentation

Abstract

Much of what was thought to be catabolic response to a surgical operation is the result of an inadequate dietary intake and/or a complication. It now seems quite evident that the adrenal alarm reaction contributes only slightly to the nutritional alterations following such injury. When a good diet is provided and complication avoided, the metabolic alterations are similar to those occurring in volunteers on a comparable dietary regimen. The impression must not be left that every patient who is unable to take an adequate diet by mouth must be provided complete intravenous alimentation, but it should be evident that if the nutritional intake is to be inadequate for more than several days the administration of parenteral nutrients can be of considerable benefit.