Clinical effects and adequacy of a new all-in-one dextrose-electrolyte-trace element preparation in patients on prolonged TPN

Abstract

We have devised a new all-in-one dextrose/electrolyste/trace element mixture (Polyfusor DY) and tested its efficacy in clinical practice. Polyfusor DY was designed to be combined with an amino-acid preparation and to be infused with lipid in a standard total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimen. This standard regimen was formulated to provide minimum nitrogen, energy, fluid, electrolyte, vitamin and trace element requirements for the stable patient. The adequacy of currently recommended levels of provision of trace elements was tested in patients receiving long periods of intravenous nutrition. Eleven consecutive patients were fed from 13 to 280 days using TPN prescriptions based on this standard regimen. Two patients died but the nutritional state of the remainder improved. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, chromium and manganese remained largely within or above the reference ranges, however the selenium content of Polyfusor DY (500 nmol/l) was marginally inadequate to maintain normal biochemistry. Pharmacy compounding time for the standard TPN regimen based on Polyfusor DY was 10.6 ± 0.19 min (mean ± SEM) compared with 22.5 ± 0.30 min for non-standard TPN regimens prescribed independently by other clinicians (P < 0.001). A standard TPN regimen based on Polyfusor DY was clinically effective, in particular giving generally adequate trace element provision with a reduction in pharmacy time and costs.