Nutrición basada en la evidencia en las fístulas digestivas el intestino corto

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulae and short bowel syndrome are two processes in which nutritional treatment is highly important. There are evidence-based clinical practice guidelines that provide general recommendations on nutritional support in both processes. The present article reviews meta-analyses and prospective randomized trials published between 1990 and 2004 on nutritional support in GI fistulae and short bowel syndrome. No meta-analyses or prospective randomized trials comparing enteral nutrition with parenteral nutrition were found in either of the two processes studied, probably because the most appropriate forms of nutritional treatment in both entities were established some time ago. In contrast, we did find studies on the effects of artificial nutrition alone or associated with new drugs or nutrients, such as somatostatin or octreotide in GI fistulae, and glutamine, growth hormone and/or glucagonlike peptide 2 in short bowel syndrome, which in some cases could offer promising results in improving the progression and outcome of these two processes.