The effects of enteral and parenteral nutrition on clinical outcomes in cancer inpatients receiving palliative care

Burcu Almacan1, Sanem Gökçen Merve Kılınç1, Ferhat Ekinci2, Ahmet Dirican2, Gamze Göksel Öztürk2, Atike Pınar Erdoğan2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine Faculty of Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, Medicine Faculty of Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

Keywords: Enteral nutrition, palliative care, parenteral nutrition

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to determine the effects of enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) on clinical outcomes in cancer inpatients receiving palliative care in the oncology unit.

Patients and methods: A total of 100 cancer patients who were admitted to the Manisa Celal Bayar University Oncology Inpatient Unit between January 2016 and December 2017 for palliative support were included in our study.

Results: There was no difference between EN and PN in terms of general mortality. According to patient characteristics, the rates of receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy were equivalent. Parenteral nutrition may cause increased rate of central line infection due to growth in blood and urine culture. It may also disrupt fluid electrolyte balance.

Conclusion: Patients should be closely monitored for complications that may arise during parenteral and enteral nutritional therapy.

Cite this article as: Almacan B, Merve Kılınç SG, Ekinci F, Dirican A, Göksel Öztürk G, Erdoğan AP. The effects of enteral and parenteral nutrition on clinical outcomes in cancer inpatients receiving palliative care. D J Med Sci 2020;6(2):49-52.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.