Assessment of Total Parenteral Nutrition administration among Intensive Care Unit patients at Omdurman Military Hospital, Sudan

Total parenteral nutrition is one of the important types of nutrition among patients with intestinal failure. This research was intended to assess total parenteral nutrition administration of the intensive care unit patients at the Military hospital, Sudan. A cross-sectional hospital-based study assessed the patients records in the period between April 2014-November 2015, data were analyzed through chi-square test, it was considered significant when p[≤] 0.05. Twenty patients who received total parenteral nutrition were assessed, 60% were males, while 40% were females. The most frequent indication for total parenteral nutrition was laparotomy (35% of patients). The duration of total parenteral nutrition was assessed, 70% of patients had duration between 1-20 days. Regarding total parenteral nutrition complications, the most frequent complication was hypokalemia (45% of patients), refeeding syndrome occurred in 10 % of patients. A statistically significant association was found between total parenteral nutrition duration when assessed with age and indication (p= 0.005 and 0.000 respectively). Patients suffering from electrolytes imbalance need more care to avoid the development of refeeding syndrome, as well as high level of hygiene is strictly required to overcome septic complications. There is a need to consider specialized care team composed of nurses, clinical pharmacists and nutritionists.