The role of parenteral nutrition as a supplement to enteral nutrition in patients with severe brain injury

Enteral nutrition (EN) is the preferred and safe route of feeding in surgical patients incapable of self-nutrition. We describe three patients with severe brain insult and recurrent sepsis, who despite the early introduction of EN, remained hypoalbuminaemic, hypoproteinaemic and developed peripheral oedema. This state persisted, despite increasing the caloric and protein intake via the enteral route. However, after a short course of supplemental parenteral nutrition (PN), albumin and total protein levels improved, with resolution of peripheral oedema. We hypothesize that, in certain critically ill neurosurgical patients on EN, gastrointestinal malabsorption may underlie a persistently low serum albumin, total protein and peripheral oedema. A short course of supplemental PN may help to reverse this and a normal regimen of EN can then be continued.