Nurse supervised combined refeeding and home parenteral nutrition in traumatic intestinal failure: A case series

BACKGROUND: Intestinal failure is a decrease in intestinal function under the minimum absorption requirements of macronutrients, water, and electrolytes. Hartman's procedure with jejunostomy is used as a surgical procedure to prevent further damage in cases of abdominal trauma. Providing parenteral nutrition at home is needed to prevent nutritional deficiencies and prolonged length of stay. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We reported two cases, involving two men aged 25 and 14 years old who had peritonitis due to abdominal trauma and received laparotomy. Both patients had Hartman’s procedures and jejunostomy less than 60 cm from the Treitz ligament. Both patients were diagnosed as bowel failure with an SGA C score. Supervised home parenteral nutrition was done by refeeding jejunostomy at the distal stoma. After supervision of parenteral nutrition, the SGA score increased from C to B. Three months later the patients underwent jejunal reanastomosis. Patients went home one week later without complications. At postoperative follow-up at one month and one year, both patients did not experience any complications. DISCUSSION: HPN is now a method used to provide nutritional support for patients with IF. This helps patients to meet their nutritional needs, also preventing psychosocial disorders and reduction of their quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these two cases, nurse supervised combined refeeding and home parenteral nutrition showed good results with an increase in nutritional status of SGA C to SGA B. Supervision of home parenteral nutrition can be considered as adjunctive therapy in patients with high intestinal failure before undergoing reanastomosis.