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The role of long-term parenteral support in patients with underlying benign conditions who do not have intestinal failure (IF) is contentious, not least since there are clear benefits in utilising the oral or enteral route for nutritional support. Furthermore, the risks of long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are significant, with significant impacts on morbidity and mortality. There has, however, been a recent upsurge of the use of HPN in patients with conditions such as gastro-intestinal neuromuscular disorders, opioid bowel dysfunction, disorders of gut-brain interaction and possibly eating disorders, who do not have IF. As a result, the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), the European Society of Neuro-gastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) and the Rome Foundation for Disorders of Gut Brain Interaction felt that a position statement is required to clarify - and hopefully reduce the potential for harm associated with - the use of long-term parenteral support in patients without IF. Consensus opinion is that HPN should not be prescribed for patients without IF, where the oral and/or enteral route can be utilised. On the rare occasions that PN commencement is required to treat life-threatening malnutrition in conditions such as those listed above, it should only be prescribed for a time-limited period to achieve nutritional safety, while the wider multi-disciplinary team focus on more appropriate biopsychosocial holistic and rehabilitative approaches to manage the patient's primary underlying condition., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Life expectancy of children with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) on home parenteral nutrition has greatly improved. Children are now able to grow into adulthood which requires transfer from pediatric to adult health care. A guideline for structured transition is lacking and the demand for a more standardized care for this patient group is necessary. Therefore, we investigated the perceptions of health care professionals from various disciplines working in this specific field, concerning effective interventions regarding transition to adult health care., Aim: To create a standardized protocol which provides practical guidance for health care professionals in order to bridge the gap between pediatric and adult health care and to facilitate successful transition of children with chronic intestinal failure., Methods: A survey consisting of 20 interventions for transition was sent out to members of the Intestinal Failure working group of European Reference Network for Rare Inherited Congenital (gastrointestinal and digestive) Anomalies (ERNICA) and the Network of Intestinal Failure and Intestinal Transplant in Europe (NITE) group - European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) healthcare professionals in 48 medical centers in various countries. Next to 20 interventions, an open-ended question to fill in any other suggestion with respect to most effective intervention was included. Interventions scoring higher than 80% by the participants were included in the protocol. Interventions scoring between 50% and 80% and other own suggestions were discussed during a consensus meeting and included when consensus, defined as unanimous agreement, was reached. Interventions scoring as effective by < 50% of participants were excluded directly., Results: A total of 80 healthcare professionals from 33 medical centers (participation rate 69%) participated. The protocol consisted of modifiable components expected to be targets of interventions. The most important key outcomes of the survey were: 1) assessment of patient's transition readiness and provision of knowledge to the patient by the pediatric team, 2) involvement of parents in the transition process, and 3) collaboration between the pediatric and adult chronic intestinal failure team. In addition it is advised that the transition process should start 1-2 years before transfer. A nurse specialist working in both services should form a bridge. All interventions must be tailor-made and based on the maturity of the patient., Conclusion: This study provides a protocol describing transition of children with chronic intestinal failure from pediatric to adult care. This international protocol will serve as practical guidance for pediatric chronic intestinal failure which will provide a more structured, optimal transition process. It is advised to use this protocol as a formal checklist that can be placed in the patient's chart to review and track the transition process by CIF team members. Future research investigating transition readiness of CIF patients is needed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Fecal microbiota was investigated in adult patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) due to short bowel syndrome (SBS) with jejunocolonic anastomosis (SBS-2). Few or no data are available on SBS with jejunostomy (SBS-1) and CIF due to intestinal dysmotility (DYS) or mucosal disease (MD). We profiled the fecal microbiota of various pathophysiological mechanisms of CIF., Methods: Cross-sectional study on 61 adults with CIF (SBS-1 30, SBS-2 17, DYS 8, MD 6). Fecal samples were collected and profiled by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Healthy controls (HC) were selected from pre-existing cohorts, matched with patients by sex and age., Results: Compared to HC, SBS-1, SBS-2 and MD patients showed lower alpha diversity; no difference was found for DYS. In beta diversity analysis, SBS-1, SBS-2 and DYS groups segregated from HC and from each other. Taxonomically, the CIF groups differed from HC even at the phylum level. In particular, CIF patients' microbiota was dominated by Lactobacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, while depleted in typical health-associated taxa belonging to Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. Notably, compositional peculiarities of the CIF groups emerged. Furthermore, in the SBS groups, the microbiota profile differed according to the amount of parenteral nutrition required and the duration of CIF., Conclusions: CIF patients showed marked intestinal dysbiosis with microbial signatures specific to the pathophysiological mechanism of CIF as well as to the severity and duration of SBS., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest LP: Participation on Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Takeda; Consulting fees for Takeda, Northsea Therapeutics, NAPO Therapeutics, Nestlè, Lionhealth; Honoraria for lectures by Baxter. FD’A, MG, PB, ASS, ST: none., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: Trace elements and vitamins, named together micronutrients (MNs), are essential for human metabolism. The importance of MNs in common pathologies is recognized by recent research, with deficiencies significantly impacting the outcome., Objective: This short version of the guideline aims to provide practical recommendations for clinical practice., Methods: An extensive search of the literature was conducted in the databases Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and CINAHL for the initial guideline. The search focused on physiological data, historical evidence (for papers published before PubMed release in 1996), and observational and/or randomized trials. For each MN, the main functions, optimal analytical methods, impact of inflammation, potential toxicity, and provision during enteral or parenteral nutrition were addressed. The SOP wording was applied for strength of recommendations., Results: The limited number of interventional trials prevented meta-analysis and led to a low level of evidence for most recommendations. The recommendations underwent a consensus process, which resulted in a percentage of agreement (%): strong consensus required of >90 % of votes. Altogether the guideline proposes 3 general recommendations and specific recommendations for the 26 MNs. Monitoring and management strategies are proposed., Conclusion: This short version of the MN guideline should facilitate handling of the MNs in at-risk diseases, whilst offering practical advice on MN provision and monitoring during nutritional support., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All the authors declares no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: In 2016, ESPEN published the guideline for Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) in adults. An updated version of ESPEN guidelines on CIF due to benign disease in adults was devised in order to incorporate new evidence since the publication of the previous ESPEN guidelines., Methods: The grading system of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was used to grade the literature. Recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence available as A (strong), B (conditional), 0 (weak) and Good practice points (GPP). The recommendations of the 2016 guideline (graded using the GRADE system) which were still valid, because no studies supporting an update were retrieved, were reworded and re-graded accordingly., Results: The recommendations of the 2016 guideline were reviewed, particularly focusing on definitions, and new chapters were included to devise recommendations on IF centers, chronic enterocutaneous fistulas, costs of IF, caring for CIF patients during pregnancy, transition of patients from pediatric to adult centers. The new guideline consist of 149 recommendations and 16 statements which were voted for consensus by ESPEN members, online in July 2022 and at conference during the annual Congress in September 2022. The Grade of recommendation is GPP for 96 (64.4%) of the recommendations, 0 for 29 (19.5%), B for 19 (12.7%), and A for only five (3.4%). The grade of consensus is "strong consensus" for 148 (99.3%) and "consensus" for one (0.7%) recommendation. The grade of consensus for the statements is "strong consensus" for 14 (87.5%) and "consensus" for two (12.5%)., Conclusions: It is confirmed that CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. Most of the recommendations were graded as GPP, but almost all received a strong consensus., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict of interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive., (Copyright © 2023 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home parenteral nutrition (HPN) providers, as well as healthcare administrators and policy makers, about appropriate and safe HPN provision. This guideline will also inform patients requiring HPN. The guideline is based on previous published guidelines and provides an update of current evidence and expert opinion; it consists of 71 recommendations that address the indications for HPN, central venous access device (CVAD) and infusion pump, infusion catheter and CVAD site care, nutritional admixtures, program monitoring and management. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews and single clinical trials based on clinical questions were searched according to the PICO format. The evidence was evaluated and used to develop clinical recommendations implementing Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network methodology. The guideline was commissioned and financially supported by ESPEN and members of the guideline group were selected by ESPEN., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict of interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed by ESPEN members with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive., (Copyright © 2022 © 2023 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Malnutrition is a well-recognized risk factor for major surgery-related complications, but the impact of preoperative nutritional therapy is still debated due to a lack of high-level evidence. The study aims to evaluate the role of preoperative malnutrition in the postoperative course of patients who underwent pancreatic resection., Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 488 patients who underwent pancreatic resection. An entropy balance was applied to 134 patients at risk for moderate or severe malnutrition (M/S-MAL) to obtain a cohort equal to 354 patients, with the null or low risk of malnutrition (N/L-MAL). The reweighting scheme was made in two steps. In the 1st reweighting, the two cohorts were homogenized for confounding factors not modifiable. In the 2nd reweighting, the two cohorts were matched for modifiable factors by preoperative dietary support. The entropy balance was evaluated with the d-value. The postoperative results were reported as mean differences (MD) or odds ratio (OR) with a confidence interval at 95% (95 CI)., Results: The M/S-MAL included patients with lower values of BMI (d < 0.750), hemoglobin (d = 0.671), serum albumin (d = 0.554), total protein (d = 0.381). The M/S-MAL patients were more frequent ECOG 1-2 (d = 0.418), with jaundice (d = 0.445) or back pain (d = 0.366). The pancreaticoduodenectomy (d = 0.440) and vascular resection (d = 0.620) in the M/S-MAL group were performed more frequently. The pancreatic remnant was more often hard (d = 0.527), and the Wirsung duct dilated (d = 0.459) in the N/L-MAL group. The rate of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was higher in M/S-MAL (d = 0.399). After 1st weighting, M/S-MAL patients have a high comprehensive complication index (CCI) (MD = 5.5; 0.3 to 10.7), were more frequently discharged not at home (OR 2.3; 1.1 to 5.4) with a prolonged mean hospital stay (MD 6.1.1; 0.1 to 12.1, days), After 2nd weighting, the two groups have similar postoperative results., Conclusion: The correction of malnutrition could play an independent role in reducing the severity of complication, length of stay, and type of discharge in patients who underwent pancreatic resection., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors disclosed any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any financial, personal, or other relationships with other people or organisations within that could inappropriately influence (bias) this work. The study was not preregistered., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: Trace elements and vitamins, named together micronutrients (MNs), are essential for human metabolism. Recent research has shown the importance of MNs in common pathologies, with significant deficiencies impacting the outcome., Objective: This guideline aims to provide information for daily clinical nutrition practice regarding assessment of MN status, monitoring, and prescription. It proposes a consensus terminology, since many words are used imprecisely, resulting in confusion. This is particularly true for the words "deficiency", "repletion", "complement", and "supplement"., Methods: The expert group attempted to apply the 2015 standard operating procedures (SOP) for ESPEN which focuses on disease. However, this approach could not be applied due to the multiple diseases requiring clinical nutrition resulting in one text for each MN, rather than for diseases. An extensive search of the literature was conducted in the databases Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. The search focused on physiological data, historical evidence (published before PubMed release in 1996), and observational and/or randomized trials. For each MN, the main functions, optimal analytical methods, impact of inflammation, potential toxicity, and provision during enteral or parenteral nutrition were addressed. The SOP wording was applied for strength of recommendations., Results: There was a limited number of interventional trials, preventing meta-analysis and leading to a low level of evidence. The recommendations underwent a consensus process, which resulted in a percentage of agreement (%): strong consensus required of >90% of votes. Altogether the guideline proposes sets of recommendations for 26 MNs, resulting in 170 single recommendations. Critical MNs were identified with deficiencies being present in numerous acute and chronic diseases. Monitoring and management strategies are proposed., Conclusion: This guideline should enable addressing suboptimal and deficient status of a bundle of MNs in at-risk diseases. In particular, it offers practical advice on MN provision and monitoring during nutritional support., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict-of-interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed by ESPEN members with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive., (Copyright © 2022 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This ESPEN practical guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home enteral nutrition (HEN) providers in a concise way about the indications and contraindications for HEN, as well as its implementation and monitoring. This guideline will also inform interested patients requiring HEN. Home parenteral nutrition is not included but will be addressed in a separate ESPEN guideline. The guideline is based on the ESPEN scientific guideline published before, which consists of 61 recommendations that have been reproduced and renumbered, along with the associated commentaries that have been shorted compared to the scientific guideline. Evidence grades and consensus levels are indicated. The guideline was commissioned and financially supported by ESPEN and the members of the guideline group were selected by ESPEN., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict of interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive., (Copyright © 2021 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: The preoperative use of carbohydrate loading (CHO) is recommended in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, even if the advantages remain debatable. The aim was to evaluate the CHO benefits in patients undergoing abdominal surgery., Methods: A systematic search of randomized clinical trials was made. A frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis was carried out, reporting the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA). The primary endpoint regarded the morbidity rate. The secondary endpoints were aspiration/regurgitation rates, the length of stay (LOS), the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), the changes (Δ) in insulin sensitivity or resistance, and the postoperative C- reactive protein (CRP) values., Results: CHO loading and water administration had a similar probability of being the approach with a lower morbidity rate (SUCRA = 62.4% and 64.7%). CHO and clear water also had a similar chance of avoiding the PONV (SUCRA of 80.8% and 77%). The aspiration regurgitation rate was not relevant in non-fasting patients (0.06%). CHO administration was associated with the shorter hospitalization (SUCRA 86.9%), with the best metabolic profile (SUCRA values for insulin resistance and sensitivity were 81.1% and 76%). CHO enriched was the best approach for postoperative CRP values. Preoperative fasting was the worst approach for morbidity, PONV, insulin resistance and sensitivity, and CRP (SUCRA values of 32.1%, 21.7%, 10.2%, 3.2%, and 2.0%)., Conclusion: Both preoperative CHO loading and clear water use were superior to the fasting about morbidity. CHO drinks use could provide specific advantages, reduce the PONV rate, and improve carbohydrate homeostasis, inflammatory pathway, and hospitalization., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest All authors disclosed any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any financial, personal, or other relationships with other people or organisations within that could inappropriately influence (bias) this work. The study was not preregistered., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: This practical guideline is based on the ESPEN Guidelines on Chronic Intestinal Failure in Adults., Methodology: ESPEN guidelines have been shortened and transformed into flow charts for easier use in clinical practice. The practical guideline is dedicated to all professionals including physicians, dieticians, nutritionists, and nurses working with patients with chronic intestinal failure., Results: This practical guideline consists of 112 recommendations with short commentaries for the management and treatment of benign chronic intestinal failure, including home parenteral nutrition and its complications, intestinal rehabilitation, and intestinal transplantation., Conclusion: This practical guideline gives guidance to health care providers involved in the management of patients with chronic intestinal failure., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: The glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogue, teduglutide, allows to reduce the intravenous supplementation (IVS) dependency of patients with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure (SBS-IF). The rate of candidacy of SBS-IF patients for the treatment is unknown. The candidacy for teduglutide treatment of our patient cohort was investigated by a systematic analysis., Methods: The indications, contraindications, special warnings and precautions for use of teduglutide, listed in the drug monographs and in the phase-III trial protocol were adopted to categorize the patients as non-candidates (NC), potential candidates (PC) or straight candidates (SC) for the treatment. All the SBS-IF adult patients who were cured at our centre were assessed according to their clinical status on January 1st, 2020., Results: Seventy-nine patients were evaluated: 34.2% were NC due to risk of digestive malignancy, recent history of any other cancer, or listing for intestinal transplantation; 30.4% were PC, because of other premalignant conditions, risk of intestinal obstruction, entero-cutaneous fistulas, or severe co-morbidities; 35.4% were SC. The SC group showed the lowest requirement of IVS: the lowest number of days of infusion per week (p = 0.0054), the lowest amount of energy (p = 0.0110) and volume (p = 0.0136)., Conclusions: This systematic analysis allowed a pragmatic categorization of the candidacy of patients with SBS-IF for GLP-2 analogue treatment. The SC group appeared to have the highest probability of a successful response to the treatment. A systematic analysis of SBS-IF patient candidate for GLP-2 analogue therapy would allow a homogeneous patient selection and facilitate the worldwide comparison of the results of clinical practice and research., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest LP received grant for participation in advisory board from Baxter, Takeda, and educational grant from Fresenius-Kabi and Seda. ASS, FMV, AM, CP and MG have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: The prevalence of malnutrition and the provided nutritional therapy were evaluated in all the patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) hospitalized in a 3rd level hospital in Italy., Methods: A one-day audit was carried out recording: age, measured or estimated body weight (BW) and height, body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ), 30-day weight loss (WL), comorbidities, serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP: nv < 0.5 mg/dL), hospital diet (HD) intake, oral nutritional supplements (ONS), enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN). Modified NRS-2002 tool and GLIM criteria were used for nutritional risk screening and for the diagnosis of malnutrition, respectively., Results: A total of 268 patients was evaluated; intermediate care units (IMCUs, 61%), sub-intensive care units (SICUs, 8%), intensive care units (ICUs, 17%) and rehabilitation units (RUs, 14%): BMI: <18.5, 9% (higher in RUs, p = 0.008) and ≥30, 13% (higher in ICUs, p = 0.012); WL ≥ 5%, 52% (higher in ICUs and RUs, p = 0.001); CRP >0.5: 78% (higher in ICUs and lower in RUs, p < 0.001); Nutritional risk and malnutrition were present in 77% (higher in ICUs and RUs, p < 0.001) and 50% (higher in ICUs, p = 0.0792) of the patients, respectively. HD intake ≤50%, 39% (higher in IMCUs and ICUs, p < 0.001); ONS, EN and PN were prescribed to 6%, 13% and 5%, respectively. Median energy and protein intake/kg BW were 25 kcal and 1.1 g (both lower in ICUs, p < 0.05) respectively., Conclusions: Most of the patients were at nutritional risk, and one-half of them was malnourished. The frequency of nutritional risk, malnutrition, disease/inflammation burden and decrease intake of HD differed among the intensity of care settings, where the patients were managed according to the severity of the disease. The patient energy and protein intake were at the lowest limit or below the recommended amounts, indicating the need for actions to improve the nutritional care practice., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: The prevalence of malnutrition is over 70% in advanced cancer patients and impacts negatively on survival and quality of life. Artificial nutrition can be integrated into a home palliative care program. This observational study aims to describe the criteria for identifying the cancer patients that could benefit from home artificial nutrition (HAN) and to evaluate its impact on survival and performance status., Methods: The selection criteria for patient's eligibility to HAN were: Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥40, life expectancy ≥6 weeks, inadequate caloric intake ± malnutrition, suitable psycho-physical conditions and informed consent. The access route for nutritional therapy (home parenteral nutrition, HPN; home enteral nutrition, HEN) was chosen according to the ESPEN Guidelines. The parameters considered were: primary site of the tumor; oral food intake; nutritional status; stage of cachexia; fluid, energy and protein supplied by HAN; survival., Results: From 1990 to 2019, 43,474 cancer patients were assisted at home in Bologna (Italy). HAN started in 969 patients (2.2% of total patients, 571 men and 398 women, mean age 65.7 ± 12.7 years): HPN in 629 patients (64.9%), with gastrointestinal obstruction as the main indication; HEN in 340 patients (35.1%), with dysphagia as the main indication. Considering the 890 deceased patients, the mean survival after the start of HAN was 18.3 weeks and 649 patients (72.9%) survived more than 6 weeks. The mean survival was higher in HEN (22.1 weeks) compared to HPN patients (16.1 weeks) (p < .001). After one month, KPS was unchanged in 649 (67.0%), increased in 232 (23.9%) and decreased in 88 patients (9.1%). The mean KPS increased in patients starting HAN in pre-cachexia and cachexia (p < .001). Cachexia and refractory cachexia at the entry were associated with a reduced survival [odds ratio: 1.5 and 2.3 respectively, p < .001 for both condition] respect to pre-cachexia., Conclusions: The selection criteria allow the identification of the patient who can take advantage of HAN. HAN can be effective in avoiding death from malnutrition in 73% of patients, and in maintaining or improving the KPS at one month in 90% of cases. The benefits provided by HAN on survival and performance status depend on the cachexia degree at the entry., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

The management of patients with chronic intestinal failure requiring home parenteral nutrition has been and will continue to be impaired during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Multidisciplinary intestinal failure teams may have to adapt their clinical approaches to home care, outpatient care as well as hospital admission and discharge in order to keep this vulnerable group of patients as safe and well as possible during the unprecedented challenges that countries are facing during the pandemic. Equally, it is important that expert advice from intestinal failure teams is available when home parenteral nutrition (HPN)-dependent patients require admission with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Home Artificial Nutrition & Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) has developed a position paper to outline areas for intestinal failure teams to consider when managing patients with chronic intestinal failure during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

This guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home parenteral nutrition (HPN) providers, as well as healthcare administrators and policy makers, about appropriate and safe HPN provision. This guideline will also inform patients requiring HPN. The guideline is based on previous published guidelines and provides an update of current evidence and expert opinion; it consists of 71 recommendations that address the indications for HPN, central venous access device (CVAD) and infusion pump, infusion line and CVAD site care, nutritional admixtures, program monitoring and management. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews and single clinical trials based on clinical questions were searched according to the PICO format. The evidence was evaluated and used to develop clinical recommendations implementing Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network methodology. The guideline was commissioned and financially supported by ESPEN and members of the guideline group were selected by ESPEN., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The expert members of the working group were accredited by the ESPEN Guidelines Group, the ESPEN Education and Clinical Practice Committee, and the ESPEN executive. All expert members have declared their individual conflicts of interest according to the rules of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). If potential conflicts were indicated, they were reviewed by the ESPEN guideline officers and, in cases of doubts, by the ESPEN executive. None of the expert panel had to be excluded from the working group or from co-authorship because of serious conflicts. The conflict of interest forms are stored at the ESPEN guideline office and can be reviewed by ESPEN members with legitimate interest upon request to the ESPEN executive., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: The safety and effectiveness of a home parenteral nutrition (HPN) program depends both on the expertise and the management approach of the HPN center. We aimed to evaluate both the approaches of different international HPN-centers in their provision of HPN and the types of intravenous supplementation (IVS)-admixtures prescribed to patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF)., Methods: In March 2015, 65 centers from 22 countries enrolled 3239 patients (benign disease 90.1%, malignant disease 9.9%), recording the patient, CIF and HPN characteristics in a structured database. The HPN-provider was categorized as health care system local pharmacy (LP) or independent home care company (HCC). The IVS-admixture was categorized as fluids and electrolytes alone (FE) or parenteral nutrition, either commercially premixed (PA) or customized to the individual patient (CA), alone or plus extra FE (PAFE or CAFE). Doctors of HPN centers were responsible for the IVS prescriptions., Results: HCC (66%) was the most common HPN provider, with no difference noted between benign-CIF and malignant-CIF. LP was the main modality in 11 countries; HCC prevailed in 4 European countries: Israel, USA, South America and Oceania (p < 0.001). IVS-admixture comprised: FE 10%, PA 17%, PAFE 17%, CA 38%, CAFE 18%. PA and PAFE prevailed in malignant-CIF while CA and CAFE use was greater in benign-CIF (p < 0.001). PA + PAFE prevailed in those countries where LP was the main HPN-provider and CA + CAFE prevailed where the main HPN-provider was HCC (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that HPN provision and the IVS-admixture differ greatly among countries, among HPN centers and between benign-CIF and cancer-CIF. As both HPN provider and IVS-admixture types may play a role in the safety and effectiveness of HPN therapy, criteria to homogenize HPN programs are needed so that patients can have equal access to optimal CIF care., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

This guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home enteral nutrition (HEN) providers about the indications and contraindications for HEN, and its implementation and monitoring. Home parenteral nutrition is not included but will be addressed in a separate ESPEN guideline. This guideline will also inform interested patients requiring HEN. The guideline is based on current evidence and expert opinion and consists of 61 recommendations that address the indications for HEN, relevant access devices and their use, the products recommended, the monitoring and criteria for termination of HEN, and the structural requirements needed to perform HEN. We searched for meta-analyses, systematic reviews and single clinical trials based on clinical questions according to the PICO format. The evidence was evaluated and used to develop clinical recommendations implementing the SIGN method. The guideline was commissioned and financially supported by ESPEN and the members of the guideline group were selected by ESPEN., (Copyright © 2019 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Intestinal failure (IF) is defined from a requirement or intravenous supplementation due to failing capacity to absorb nutrients and fluids. Acute IF is an acute, potentially reversible form of IF. We aimed to identify the prevalence, underlying causes and outcomes of acute IF., Methods: This point-of-prevalence study included all adult patients hospitalized in acute care hospitals and receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) on a study day. The reason for PN and the mechanism of IF (if present) were documented by local investigators and reviewed by an expert panel., Results: Twenty-three hospitals (19 university, 4 regional) with a total capacity of 16,356 acute care beds and 1237 intensive care unit (ICU) beds participated in this study. On the study day, 338 patients received PN (21 patients/1000 acute care beds) and 206 (13/1000) were categorized as acute IF. The categorization of reason for PN was revised in 64 cases (18.9% of total) in consensus between the expert panel and investigators. Hospital mortality of all study patients was 21.5%; the median hospital stay was 36 days. Patients with acute IF had a hospital mortality of 20.5% and median hospital stay of 38 days (P > 0.05 for both outcomes). Disordered gut motility (e.g. ileus) was the most common mechanism of acute IF, and 71.5% of patients with acute IF had undergone abdominal surgery. Duration of PN of ≥42 days was identified as being the best cut-off predicting hospital mortality within 90 days. PN ≥ 42 days, age, sepsis and ICU admission were independently associated with 90-day hospital mortality., Conclusions: Around 2% of adult patients in acute care hospitals received PN, 60% of them due to acute IF. High 90-day hospital mortality and long hospital stay were observed in patients receiving PN, whereas presence of acute IF did not additionally influence these outcomes. Duration of PN was associated with increased 90-day hospital mortality., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Home parenteral nutrition-quality of life (HPN-QOL © ) is a self-assessment tool for the measurement of QOL in patients on HPN. The aims of this study were: to re-assess the basic psychometric properties of the HPN-QOL © in a multinational sample of adult patients; to provide a description of QOL dimensions by short and long HPN treatment duration; to explore clinical factors potentially associated to QOL scores., Methods: Patients (n = 699) from 14 countries completed the HPN-QOL © . The questionnaires were analysed to evaluate data completeness, convergent/discriminant validity and internal-consistency reliability. The association of overall QOL and HPN treatment duration as well as other clinical factors were investigated using multivariable linear regression models., Results: The analysis of the multitrait-scaling and internal consistency indicates a good fit with the questionnaire structure for most items. Item discriminant validity correlation was satisfactory and psychometric evaluation of the HPN-QOL © in the different English, French and Italian language patient sub-groups confirmed psychometric equivalence of the three questionnaire versions. The results of the multivariable linear regression showed that QOL scores were significantly associated with HPN duration (better in long-term), underlying disease (better in Crohn's disease and mesenteric ischaemia) and living status (worse in living alone) and, after adjusting for the other factors, with the number of days of HPN infusion per week., Conclusions: The HPN-QOL © , is a valid tool for measurement of QOL in patients on HPN, to be used in the clinical practice as well as in research., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) has been defined using numerous criteria; however the clinical relevance of these criteria has never been compared. We therefore aimed to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, evolution of IFALD diagnosed by different criteria and to assess any clinical features that may be associated with its occurrence., Methods: A cross sectional (CS) and retrospective study were carried out on adults on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for chronic intestinal failure (CIF) managed at a single center. Inclusion criteria at CS: age ≥18 years, benign disease. Collected data included: patient demographics, CIF and HPN characteristics, episodes of central venous catheter related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). IFALD was diagnosed by 9 criteria based on liver function tests and liver ultrasound (US) imaging. IFALD diagnoses were categorized as steatosis (2 criteria), cholestasis (3 criteria) or fibrosis (2 criteria) and unclassified (2 criteria). Prevalence was assessed at CS and at starting HPN (baseline, BS). Evolution was assessed as change of IFALD between BS and CS. Incidence was calculated as patients who developed IFALD from BS to CS., Results: A total of 113 patients were included. At CS, IFALD prevalence range in each diagnostic categories was: cholestasis 5-15%; steatosis 17-43%; fibrosis 10-20%; unclassified 7-38%. A 28.5% of patients did not have IFALD according to any criteria. Two cholestasis criteria and one fibrosis criterion were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with a short bowel syndrome as the pathophysiological mechanism of CIF, HPN requirement and the number of CRBSI episodes. At BS, IFALD prevalence range was: cholestasis 13-40%; steatosis 27-90%; fibrosis 2-5%; unclassified 8-75%. The incidence range of IFALD was: cholestasis 0-7%; steatosis 0-39%; fibrosis 7-18%; unclassified 4-9%. IFALD steatosis diagnosed by US was the most frequent diagnosis at both CS prevalence and incidence assessments. Notably, IFALD criteria normalized in various percentages (2-70%), depending on the diagnostic categories, between BS and CS., Conclusions: This is the first study to systematically demonstrate that the frequency of IFALD varies greatly depending on diagnostic criteria used, confirming the need for a consensus definition to be used between different national and international IF units. IFALD can be present at HPN initiation but may resolve thereafter; further work is required to evaluate the factors associated with improvement., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

We recommend that intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) should be diagnosed by the presence of abnormal liver function tests and/or evidence of radiological and/or histological liver abnormalities occurring in an individual with IF, in the absence of another primary parenchymal liver pathology (e.g. viral or autoimmune hepatitis), other hepatotoxic factors (e.g. alcohol/medication) or biliary obstruction. The presence or absence of sepsis should be noted, along with the duration of PN administration. Abnormal liver histology is not mandatory for a diagnosis of IFALD and the decision to perform a liver biopsy should be made on a case-by-case basis, but should be particularly considered in those with a persistent abnormal conjugated bilirubin in the absence of intra or extra-hepatic cholestasis on radiological imaging and/or persistent or worsening hyperbilirubinaemia despite resolution of any underlying sepsis and/or any clinical or radiological features of chronic liver disease. Nutritional approaches aimed at minimising PN overfeeding and optimising oral/enteral nutrition should be instituted to prevent and/or manage IFALD. We further recommend that the lipid administered is limited to less than 1 g/kg/day, and the prescribed omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio is reduced wherever possible. For patients with any evidence of progressive hepatic fibrosis or overt liver failure, combined intestinal and liver transplantation should be considered., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Intestinal failure (IF) is defined as "the reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth". Functionally, it may be classified as type I acute intestinal failure (AIF), type II prolonged AIF and type III chronic intestinal failure (CIF) The ESPEN Workshop on IF was held in Bologna, Italy, on 15-16 October 2017 and the aims of this document were to highlight the current state of the art and future directions for research in IF., Methods: This paper represents the opinion of experts in the field, based on current evidence. It is not a formal review, but encompasses the current evidence, with emphasis on epidemiology, classification, diagnosis and management., Results: IF is the rarest form of organ failure and can result from a variety of conditions that affect gastrointestinal anatomy and function adversely. Assessment, diagnosis, and short and long-term management involves a multidisciplinary team with diverse expertise in the field that aims to reduce complications, increase life expectancy and improve quality of life in patients., Conclusions: Both AIF and CIF are relatively rare conditions and most of the published work presents evidence from small, single-centre studies. Much remains to be investigated to improve the diagnosis and management of IF and future studies should rely on multidisciplinary, multicentre and multinational collaborations that gather data from large cohorts of patients. Emphasis should also be placed on partnership with patients, carers and government agencies in order to improve the quality of research that focuses on patient-centred outcomes that will help to improve both outcomes and quality of life in patients with this devastating condition., (Copyright © 2018 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aim: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is the primary treatment for chronic intestinal failure (IF). Intestinal transplantation (ITx) is indicated when there is an increased risk of death due to HPN complications or to the underlying disease. Age, pathophysiologic conditions and underlying disease are known predictors of HPN dependency and overall survival. Although the cause of death on HPN is mostly related to underlying disease in these patients, the relationship between mortality and duration of HPN use remains unclear. The purpose of the present study is to describe factors associated with survival and HPN dependency as well as causes of death in adult patients requiring HPN for chronic intestinal failure during the first 5 years of treatment with HPN., Methods: A multicenter international (European and USA) questionnaire-based retrospective follow-up of a cohort of 472 IF patients who started HPN was conducted between June and December 2000. Study endpoint was either end of 5-year follow-up, weaned-off HPN, ITx, or death on HPN. Data were analyzed for HPN dependence and overall survival using Kaplan-Meier models and log rank tests., Results: The overall survival probability was 88%, 74% and 64% at 1, 3 and 5 years respectively. Survival was inversely related to age (p < .001) and higher in patients with Crohn's disease or chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction. A total of 169 (36.5%) patients were weaned-off HPN mainly (80%) within the first year and most frequently in patients with fistulae. Five of the 14 patients who underwent ITx died. By the end of the study, 104 (23%) of patients died on HPN; 65% of deaths occurred within the first 2.5 years of HPN., Conclusions: Younger ages at HPN initiation and underlying pathologies are significantly predictive of survival on HPN. Risk of death is greatest during the first 2 years of HPN., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the applicability of the ESPEN 16-category clinical classification of chronic intestinal failure, based on patients' intravenous supplementation (IVS) requirements for energy and fluids, and to evaluate factors associated with those requirements., Methods: ESPEN members were invited to participate through ESPEN Council representatives. Participating centers enrolled adult patients requiring home parenteral nutrition for chronic intestinal failure on March 1st 2015. The following patient data were recorded though a structured database: sex, age, body weight and height, intestinal failure mechanism, underlying disease, IVS volume and energy need., Results: Sixty-five centers from 22 countries enrolled 2919 patients with benign disease. One half of the patients were distributed in 3 categories of the ESPEN clinical classification. 9% of patients required only fluid and electrolyte supplementation. IVS requirement varied considerably according to the pathophysiological mechanism of intestinal failure. Notably, IVS volume requirement represented loss of intestinal function better than IVS energy requirement. A simplified 8 category classification of chronic intestinal failure was devised, based on two types of IVS (either fluid and electrolyte alone or parenteral nutrition admixture containing energy) and four categories of volume., Conclusions: Patients' IVS requirements varied widely, supporting the need for a tool to homogenize patient categorization. This study has devised a novel, simplified eight category IVS classification for chronic intestinal failure that will prove useful in both the clinical and research setting when applied together with the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of the patient's intestinal failure., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Obesity is a worldwide health problem. Bariatric surgery (BS) is becoming one of the most commonly used methods for fighting obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, current BS techniques can be associated with early or late complications that may require nutritional support. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to determine the indications and outcomes for patients on Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) due to post-bariatric surgery complications., Methods: A specific questionnaire was designed by the ESPEN HAN/CIF working group and submitted to HPN centers. This questionnaire included: patient demographics, type of surgery, BMI before surgery and at start of HPN, indications for HPN including technical and nutritional complications (early within 2 months after surgery or late), outcome, PN regimen, and HPN complications. Patients were retrospectively included from January 2008 to June 2014., Results: Eighteen HPN centers responded to the survey. A total of 2880 HPN patients were treated during the study period, 77 of whom had BS (65 females; mean age 51 ± 7 years); gastric bypass was performed in 69% of the patients; mean BMI was 44.4 before surgery and 23.2 at the start of HPN. Indications for HPN were early complications in 17 cases and late complications in 60 cases. Early complications were mostly anastomotic leakage/fistula; late complications were hypoalbuminemia, and vitamin and trace element deficiencies. Out of 77 patients, 16 needed a surgical re-intervention, 29 were weaned off HPN, and 6 died (no HPN-related deaths). During the HPN period, 58% of the patients were re-hospitalized and central venous complications were observed in 41%. Diabetes mellitus was described in 17/77 patients. HPN was supportive in 60 patients and exclusive in 17 patients (mean caloric intake: 23 ± 6 kcal/k BW/day and 1.2 g/kBW/day). Only 7/77 patients resumed their professional activities on HPN., Conclusions: This is the largest observational multicenter study describing the use of HPN in patients with post-BS complications. Severe hypoalbuminemia is a major late complication. Rates of re-hospitalization and CVC infection were high. HPN may be a "bridge therapy" before surgical revision after BS. The high mortality rate reflects the complexity of these cases., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Intestinal failure (IF) is the consequence of a reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract. Types I and II comprise acute intestinal failure (AIF). Although its prevalence is relatively low, type II AIF is serious and requires specialist multidisciplinary care, often for prolonged periods before its resolution. The key aspects are: sepsis control, fluid and electrolyte resuscitation, optimization of nutritional status, wound care, appropriate surgery and active rehabilitation. The ESPEN Acute Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group (AIF SIG) has devised this position paper to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the management of type II AIF and to point out areas for future research., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) is the long-lasting reduction of gut function, below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth. CIF is the rarest organ failure. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is the primary treatment for CIF. No guidelines (GLs) have been developed that address the global management of CIF. These GLs have been devised to generate comprehensive recommendations for safe and effective management of adult patients with CIF., Methods: The GLs were developed by the Home Artificial Nutrition & Chronic Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group of ESPEN. The GRADE system was used for assigning strength of evidence. Recommendations were discussed, submitted to Delphi rounds, and accepted in an online survey of ESPEN members., Results: The following topics were addressed: management of HPN; parenteral nutrition formulation; intestinal rehabilitation, medical therapies, and non-transplant surgery, for short bowel syndrome, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and radiation enteritis; intestinal transplantation; prevention/treatment of CVC-related infection, CVC-related occlusion/thrombosis; intestinal failure-associated liver disease, gallbladder sludge and stones, renal failure and metabolic bone disease. Literature search provided 623 full papers. Only 12% were controlled studies or meta-analyses. A total of 112 recommendations are given: grade of evidence, very low for 51%, low for 39%, moderate for 8%, and high for 2%; strength of recommendation: strong for 63%, weak for 37%., Conclusions: CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for both the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. The rarity of the condition impairs the development of RCTs. As a consequence, most of the recommendations have a low or very low grade of evidence. However, two-thirds of the recommendations are considered strong. Specialized management and organization underpin these recommendations., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Catheter-related central vein thrombosis (CRVT) is a severe complication of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) that may be clinically manifest or subclinical. The aims of the study were to prospectively investigate the incidence of CRVT in patients on HPN with benign disease and determine the influence of different variables on this complication., Methods: A prospective, multicentre, observational study in the Home Artificial Nutrition-Chronic Intestinal Failure ESPEN group was performed. Patients with benign disease starting HPN or already on HPN after the insertion of a new catheter, were recruited and followed up with Color Doppler Duplex Sonography (CDDS) evaluations at baseline, 1 week, 3, 6 and 12 months after catheter insertion. Fisher's exact test was used to calculate the association of different variables (related to the patient, type of catheter, vascular access, insertion method, catheter care and anticoagulant treatment) with CRVT events., Results: Sixty-two patients (31 males, 31 females) aged 50 ± 19 (19-83) years were included and followed for a median 363 days, with an Inter Quartile Range of 180-365 days, and a total of 16,186 catheter-days. Six patients had previous CRVT and 16 had history of thromboembolic disease (pulmonary and mesenteric). Forty one patients were receiving anticoagulant treatment. Fifty two patients had tunneled catheters and 10 implanted ports. Two patients had symptomatic thrombosis at 3 and 12 months of follow-up (2 and 3 weeks after normal routine CDDS evaluation). The incidence of CRVT was 0.045/catheter/year. CRVT was not significantly associated with any of the variables analyzed., Conclusions: The incidence of CRVT in patients on HPN for benign disease followed by CDDS is low in the first year of catheterization. We did not observe any case of asymptomatic CRVT. Based on our data, CDDS seems to have low effectiveness as a screening tool for CRVT in asymptomatic patients on HPN with benign disease., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Intestinal failure (IF) is not included in the list of PubMed Mesh terms, as failure is the term describing a state of non functioning of other organs, and as such is not well recognized. No scientific society has yet devised a formal definition and classification of IF. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism guideline committee endorsed its "home artificial nutrition and chronic IF" and "acute IF" special interest groups to write recommendations on these issues., Methods: After a Medline Search, in December 2013, for "intestinal failure" and "review"[Publication Type], the project was developed using the Delphi round methodology. The final consensus was reached on March 2014, after 5 Delphi rounds and two live meetings., Results: The recommendations comprise the definition of IF, a functional and a pathophysiological classification for both acute and chronic IF and a clinical classification of chronic IF. IF was defined as "the reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth"., Conclusions: This formal definition and classification of IF, will facilitate communication and cooperation among professionals in clinical practice, organization and management, and research., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Short bowel syndrome (SBS)-intestinal failure (IF) patients have impaired quality of life (QoL) and suffer from the burden of malabsorption and parenteral support (PS). A phase III study demonstrated that treatment with teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue, reduces PS volumes by 32% while maintaining oral fluid intake constant; placebo-treated patients had reduced PS by 21%, but oral fluid intake increased accordingly. As effects of teduglutide on QoL are unknown, they were investigated here., Methods: QoL analyses from a double-blind, randomised Phase III study in 86 SBS-IF patients receiving teduglutide (0.05 mg/kg/day s.c.) or placebo over 24 weeks. At baseline and every 4 weeks, QoL was assessed using the validated SBS-QoL™ scale., Results: PS reductions were associated with QoL improvements (ANCOVA, p = 0.0194, SBS-QoL per-protocol). Compared to baseline, teduglutide significantly improved the SBS-QoL™ total score and the score of 9 of 17 items at week 24. These changes were not significant compared to placebo. Teduglutide-treated patients with remaining small intestine >100 cm experienced more gastrointestinal adverse events (GI-AE), unfavourably affecting QoL., Conclusions: Overall, PS volume reductions were associated with improvements in SBS-QoL™ scores. The short observation period, imbalances in oral fluid intake in relation to PS reductions, large patient and effect heterogeneity and occurrence of GI-AE in a subgroup of teduglutide-treated patients may account for the inability to show statistically significant effects of teduglutide on SBS-QoL™ scores compared to placebo., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: HPN patients with benign diseases deserve professional care as they have to deal with complex techniques and risk potentially dangerous complications. The aim was to highlight main outcome quality indicators and to develop a set of key interventions to direct multidisciplinary teams in providing qualitative care., Methods: A two-round Delphi approach was used to build consensus on the most important outcome indicators and on 59 interventions identified in existing guidelines on HPN. Comments and interventions newly identified in the first round were co-evaluated in the second round., Results: 29 experts from 9 countries completed the two-round Delphi approach. The outcome indicators rated as the most important are 1) incidence of catheter-related infections, 2) incidence of readmission and quality of life (shared second place) and 3) incidence of dehydration. Sixty eight of a total of 89 interventions were considered as important for the quality of care, of which 46 are based on published guidelines and 22 were newly suggested by the Delphi panel., Conclusions: Using a two-round Delphi approach, consensus was reached for the majority of interventions concerning HPN patients with benign diseases. This set of 68 interventions could be of use as a starting point for quality-improvement programs., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Indications and timing for referral for intestinal transplantation (ITx) were investigated through a review of the literature on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for benign intestinal failure and a benchmarking to the results of a prospective European survey which evaluated the appropriateness of the current indications for ITx., Methods: Manuscripts reporting outcomes of adults and children on HPN were retrieved through a PubMed search. Data from the European survey were compared with those on HPN reported in the literature, and with those on ITx reported by the USA registry and by the Pittsburgh center., Results: HPN is a safe treatment with a high probability of survival. The risk of death during HPN is increased by the absence of a specialist team, and appears greater during the early period of treatment. Survival probability is decreased in patients with: age >40 or <2 years, very short bowel remnant, presence of a stoma, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction of myopathic origin, systemic sclerosis, radiation enteritis, intra-abdominal desmoids, necrotizing enterocolitis, congenital mucosal diseases. Liver failure is the HPN-related complication with the greatest risk of death. Death related to venous catheter complications is rare. The benchmarking supported the results of the European survey., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) was introduced as a treatment modality in the early 1970s primarily for the treatment of chronic intestinal failure in patients with benign disease. The relatively low morbidity and mortality associated with HPN has encouraged its widespread use in western countries. Thus there is huge clinical experience, but there are still few controlled clinical studies of treatment effects and management of complications. The purpose of these guidelines is to highlight areas of good practice and promote the use of standardized treatment protocols between centers. The guidelines may serve as a framework for development of policies and procedures.

Aim: To determine the prevalence (cases per million inhabitants) of home artificial nutrition (HAN), enteral (HEN) and parenteral (HPN), in Italy, grouped according to administrative regions, patient age and primary disease, and to analyze the impact both of the presence of an HAN regional regulation and of demographic characteristics., Methods: In April 2005, the Regional Coordinators of the Italian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SINPE) recorded all the ongoing cases of HAN using a structured questionnaire and were asked to estimate the representativeness of the collected sample with respect to the total expected HAN., Results: A total of 6955 cases of HAN (93.5% adults, 6.5% pediatric patients < or = 18 years) were recorded in 16 of the 20 Italian regions (80% of the Italian population; sample representativeness 78%). HAN prevalence 152.6 (83.9% HEN, 16.1% HPN); the HAN range among the regions was: prevalence 28.1-519.8; oncological disease 13.8-75.7%, neurological disease 15.5-79.9%, intestinal failure 1.3-14.0%. An HAN regulation was present in 11 regions. A positive association (P=0.012) was found between the number of years since the regulation was issued and the HAN prevalence, and also between the % neurological patients and the population density (P=0.130) and the % inhabitants > or = 75 years (P=0.040)., Conclusions: The need for HAN regards a great number of patients throughout the country; there are substantial differences between the regions with respect to both the prevalence and the use of HAN in various disease categories. A specific regulation may favor the development of HAN.

Introduction & Aim: To gather information about how adult patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are monitored after discharge from the hospital., Method: A questionnaire about HPN monitoring practice was circulated to HPN centres in eight European countries through the representative of the ESPEN HAN-working group. Centres were asked about guidelines, home visits and how monitoring and handling of complications were managed., Results: Fourty-two centres in eight European countries completed the questionnaire: UK n=14, France n=9, Belgium n=4, Italy n=4, Poland n=4, Denmark n=4, Spain n=2, Germany n=1. The HPN experience of the centres was in the range 2-30 years. Centres ranged in size from 0 to 125 HPN patients representing a total number of 934 of whom 54% had received HPN for more than 2 years. The primary disease was non-malignant in 90% whilst 10% had been diagnosed with active cancer. Of the centres 92% had a HPN team and 66% had written guidelines for monitoring HPN. Home visits after discharge for monitoring purposes were carried out by 31 of the centres involving the HPN team, general practitioner, community nurse or home care agency. Stable patients on HPN for more than 12 months were monitored at the discharging hospital (73%), at a local hospital (12%), by the General Practitioner (11%) or by a home care agency (4%). Of the centres, 90% reported that the main responsibility for monitoring was assigned to a specific person. The intervals between monitoring visits for the stable HPN patient was in the range 1-6 months, 52% of the centres reported intervals of 2-3 months. In case of complications 76% of centres reported that patients got in touch with the HPN team, 2% the local hospital, 5% the home care agency, and 17% other. Re-admission to hospital was usually to the HPN centre and only occasionally to a local hospital., Conclusion: In Europe a specialised team at the discharging hospital monitors HPN patients and 66% of the centres had some kind of written guidelines.

Background and Aims: The variations of bone mineral density (BMD) during home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and their relationship with general, life style, primary disease and HPN risk factors were investigated by a follow-up study., Design: Patients who had BMD assessment in a previous cross-sectional survey underwent a 2nd BMD at femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS). Data about risk factors were collected by a structured questionnaire. BMD Z-score (number of standard deviations from normal values corrected for sex and age) and the annualized percent BMD change were analysed., Results: Sixty-five adult patients were enrolled (follow-up: 18.1+/-5.5 months). The mean BMD Z-score significantly increased at the LS (P = 0.040) and remained unchanged at FN. In multiple regression analysis, the variations of the LS Z-score during HPN negatively correlated with the female sex (P = 0.021) and the age at starting HPN (P = 0.022). The analysis of the annualized percent BMD change confirmed the results obtained by the analysis of the Z-score. No factor was associated with BMD variation at FN., Conclusions: HPN was not associated with a decrease of BMD in most of the patients; LS BMD Z-score variations were related to general risk factors rather than to HPN factors, showing a negative association with age and female sex.

Rationale: The purpose of this study is to report the frequency of central venous catheter (CVC) complications and to analyze the potential risk factors for complications requiring CVC removal in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients., Methods: A questionnaire developed by the ESPEN HAN WORKING GROUP was distributed to 12 European centers to investigate the complications occurring during the period between January 1995 and December 2000 when HPN patients used their first CVC. The questionnaire collected informations related to the Home Parenteral Nutrition technique and the underlying disease. Factors affecting the time of CVC removal were jointly investigated using Cox's multivariable regression models., Results: The study was performed on 447 patients for a total of 110869 CVC-days. Complications occurred in about 1/4 of patients, approximately half were infections and about half required Central Venous Catheter removal. The Cox analysis showed that using the CVC 7 times/week and implanted ports were associated with a hazard ratio of 3 and 2.8, respectively. A reduced risk of removal (of about 40%) was associated with using CVC also for non-nutritional purposes (P = 0.0016)., Conclusions: Within the limits of this retrospective investigation, the type of CVC, the type of administration of HPN and the type of training are important factors associated with occurrence of complications or with CVC removal. However, in our opinion, proper care of the CVC, of preparation and administration of the nutritive admixture seem to be paramount for a safe management of HPN.

Background: The use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in patients with advanced cancer is controversial because survival is usually short and there are no data regarding the quality of life (QoL)., Methods: Sixty-nine advanced cancer patients enrolled in a program of HPN in six different Italian centers were prospectively studied as regards nutritional status (body weight, serum albumin, serum transferrin and total lymphocyte count), length of survival and QoL through the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist questionnaire. These variables were collected at the start of HPN and then at monthly intervals. All these patients were severely malnourished, almost aphagic and beyond any possibility of cure., Results: Nutritional indices maintained stable until death. Median survival was 4 months (range 1-14) and about one-third of patients survived more than 7 months. QoL parameters remained stable till 2-3 months before death., Conclusions: HPN may benefit a limited percentage of patients who may survive longer than the time allowed by a condition of starvation and depletion. Provided that these patients survive longer than 3 months, there is some evidence that QoL remains stable for some months and acceptable for the patients.

Background & Aims: The epidemiology of bone disease in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is unknown. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in long-term HPN., Design: Cross-sectional, multicentre study including patients who within the last 12 months had their BMD assessed by dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry after at least 6 months of HPN. Data on bone pain and fractures, the primary gastrointestinal diseases, nutritional and rehabilitation status and HPN regimen were reviewed. Both the T-score (no. of SD below mean BMD of young subjects) and the Z-score (no. of SD from normal BMD values corrected for sex and age) were analysed., Results: A T -score <-1 at any site of assessment was observed in 84% of the 165 patients enrolled (

In order to characterize biochemical markers of bone turnover in home parenteral nutrition(HPN) patients, 8 adult patients on HPN for benign intestinal failure were studied at 0, 6 and 12 months by evaluating serum osteocalcin (bone formation marker), urinary hydroxylysyl pyridinoline, lysyl pyridinoline and beta-galactosyl hydroxylysine (bone resorption markers), serum PTH, Calcitonin, 25 vitD, 1-25vitD, serum and urinary minerals, body weight, rehabilitation degree and HPN characteristics. Three patients entered the study 2-3 months after the beginning of HPN. Their features of bone turnover were homogeneous, characterized by increased resorption associated with normal or increased formation, at baseline, and normalization of resorption associated with an increase or a parallel decrease of formation, at 6 months. At 12 months, the patterns were similar to those observed at 6 months. The patients were not of the same sex and age and had different underlying diseases and types of intestinal failure, HPN composition and serum vitamin D levels. They had weight gain that was already present at baseline and the positive outcomes of the rehabilitation and clinical status in common. Five patients entered the study more than 1 year after the beginning of HPN. They showed heterogeneous features of bone turnover that were stable throughout the study, characterized by increased resorption associated with low or normal formation in two cases, low normal resorption associated with low or normal formation in three. In one patient, who had increased resorption and low formation, the bone turnover appeared to be explained by the nutritional and clinical outcomes, which were negative. These results appeared consistent with those obtained in previous studies by bone histomorphometry, indicating that bone turnover of short-term HPN patients differed from that of long-term patients, and suggesting that the early months of HPN were associated with increased bone resorption.