Nitrogen Balance in the Post-Operative Patient Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract

Nitrogen balance was measured in patients receiving balanced parenteral nutrition, most of whom were recovering from major surgery involving the alimentary tract. Their pre-operative nutritional status was found to be an important factor in relation to the nitrogen balance that was induced. Positive nitrogen balance did not occur in patients with little or no pre-operative weight loss, but when the weight loss was more than 6 kg. positive or very small negative nitrogen balances were readily induced. The urine creatine/creatinine ratio which is an indirect index of muscle metabolic activity can be used to anticipate the nitrogen balance that may be achieved in a post-operative patient receiving parenteral nutrition.