[II BAXTER-SENPE workshop: peripheral parenteral nutrition].

During the II BAXTER-SENPE workshop, a multidisciplinary nutrition expert committee discusses on indications, advantages and drawbacks of Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN), being defined as PN compounded by the three essential elements, vitamins, and minerals. Its composition implies a CH: lipids ratio of 60:40, a limited lipid daily intake (1.3 g/kg of body weight/day) and no more than 30% of total calories), and a nitrogen load not higher than 10 g of nitrogen in a maximum volume of 2500 mL. PPN can be administered by the peripheral route since its osmolarity is lower than 800 mOsm/L and pH is 6.0-7.4; in this way, possible adverse affects of central venous accesses are prevented. Currently, PPN by represent up to 50% of all PNs prescribed at a hospital Studies on efficacy, safety and pharmacoeconomic show that PPN is very useful therapeutic resource in certain clinical situations, both medical and surgical, to prevent metabolic-nutritional worsening of the patient, thus having an impact on significant reduction of complications, the number of interventions, and hospital stay.