Prospective evaluation of a parenteral nutrition formula in critically-ill neonatal foals”

Critically-ill foals often require parenteral nutrition (PN) when they are too weak and recumbent or during gastrointestinal conditions such as ileus or enteritis. This prospective observational study evaluated the administration of a standardized formula of PN in critically-ill foals, comparing serum concentrations of glucose and triglyceride (TG) between foals treated or not with PN, describing the associated complications (hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and phlebitis), the amount of energy administered per day and the association with outcome. The study examined also if the administration of PN was significantly associated with the presence of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or with a sepsis score ≥11 and if these conditions increased the risk of hypertriglyceridemia or hyperglycemia. Age-specific normal values of serum TG concentration were measured to define our reference range.