Clinical Research

In order to improve the quality of life of nutrition consumers, we believe in nourishing industry advances in TPN and tube feeding through constant research and innovation.

For clinical resources categorized by Disease, Access, Practice, Symptom and Complications Management, view our Online Clinical Resource Guide. Samples of our published clinical research can also be found below, by topic and year.

Summary: One of the most serious complications of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a catheter- related blood stream infection (CRBSI). Patient care and safety are key concerns as a central line infection or blockage may be life threatening or devastating if the line must be removed, resulting in lack of access for nutrition and potentially a loss of venous access sites. CRBSI and its associated sequelae may be decreased or avoided with proper clinician and patient education. Policies and procedures as well as standards of care on avoidance of CRBSI are not consistent among providers.
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Summary: ORS can be useful in an intestinal rehabilitation program as well as an ongoing adjunct in treatment for short bowel syndrome (SBS). Most patients who have increased output and require fluid supplementation have SBS or a similar diagnosis that causes increased gastrointestinal (GI) losses, and many depend on home parenteral nutrition (PN). However, advances in drug therapy, medical nutrition therapy and clinical care have led to increased utilization of specialized diet and fluid interventions to reduce dependence on home PN.
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Summary: Patient-centered outcomes have been identified as the primary means of measuring the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. It is acknowledged that patients' reports of their satisfaction with the quality of care and services are as important as many clinical health measures. Routine measurement of patient satisfaction (PS) for a variety of care indicators is fundamental in the assurance of quality care provisions, and the scrutiny of data validity is essential to accurately reflect the care delivered. This underscores the need for organizations to systematically collect reliable and unbiased PS information from their own patients on an ongoing basis. One large, national home infusion company performs continuous measurement of PS with all key aspects of infusion service to identify service effectiveness and opportunities to enhance satisfaction.
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Summary: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is an uncommon condition that occurs when less than 200 centimeters of small bowel (SB) remain after small bowel injury and resection. Fecal energy loss is the result of malabsorption of nutrients by the remaining SB. There is remarkable variation in the efficiency of SB mucosal cells to adapt to SBS. Controversy exists over the efficacy of medical management in patients with SBS and intestinal failure. We present the case of a 44-year-old woman on oral contraceptives with undiagnosed anti-phospholipid syndrome and massive SB infarction, who, despite having 40 centimeters of small bowel remaining after a SB resection, responded to an aggressive management plan including temporary total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and enteral alimentation.
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Summary: Healthcare reform is a major issue in the United States. Hospital admissions and healthcare dollars are being closely scrutinized. Initiating parenteral nutrition (PN) in the home care setting versus an acute care center in carefully selected, appropriate patients will avoid hospitalization and therefore avoid a costly hospital admission.
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Summary: One national home parenteral nutrition (HPN) provider has previously published outcomes of patients receiving HPN, and now presents data reaching from 1997 to 2005 and 2007 to 2008 to evaluate if patient demographic shifts can be noted. The data comes from both long- and short–term HPN patients (<30 days to >30 years) referred from multiple clinical settings, including private practice and tertiary medical centers. The average data and the data for all three sub-groups analyzed represent statistically significant HPN patient populations across the United States, allowing for a trended view of demographic changes over time.
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Summary: This study reviews the development and implementation of an electronic nutrition assessment tool for Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) patient management and communication.
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Summary: This study reviews the importance of an emergency preparedness plan that takes into account the special needs of the home tube feeding patient.
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Summary: The objective of this study is to identify the prevalence and need of parenteral nutrition (PN) post-bariatric surgery for one national home infusion company, and to also identify the role of the registered dietitian (RD) in managing PN for post-bariatric surgery patients.
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Summary: Radiation Enteritis (RE) is defined as an inflammation of the lining of the small and large intestines resulting from radiation to treat cancers of the abdomen, pelvis or rectum. This case study demonstrates how Parenteral nutrition (PN) was initiated to provide 100 percent of a patient's nutritional needs, and by utilizing the Home Nutrition Support Team (HNST) approach, the patient was able to be weaned from PN two months after hospital discharge.
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Summary: This case demonstrates the challenges in absorption of micronutrients and macronutrients for patients with Crohn's disease. The combination of B vitamin and chromium deficiency with GI symptoms caused malabsorption and significant loss of weight and bodily function. Repletion of macro and micronutrients using short-term PN at home positively impacted not only the patient's health, but also her quality of life.
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Summary: This case study demonstrates how the Home Nutrition Support Team contributed to the success of this complex, multi-organ transplant patient by providing necessary pharmacy, nutrition and nursing monitoring and clinical feedback to all partners in this patient's care to enhance the post-transplant course and clinical outcomes.
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Summary: This case study demonstrates how the Home Nutrition Support Team contributes to the successful long-term TPN management of a complex patient to enhance her quality of life and help avoid re-hospitalization.
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Summary: Long-term TPN patients may benefit from clinical pathway management as TPN is provided by a variety of home infusion companies with varying levels of expertise and experience. When appropriate, timely intervention with rehabilitation may avoid or forestall the need for transplantation.
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Summary: This case study provides a step-by-step outline of the coordinated efforts made by a national home infusion company's Home Nutrition Support Team to successfully permit a PN-dependent consumer to travel abroad on a vacation of a lifetime.
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Summary: Many therapies are involved in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) including diet changes, anti-emetic therapy, hydration and enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition support. Although severe HG occurs in less than one percent of women during gestation, it can be severely debilitating and a signicant cause of malnutrition, potentially affecting fetal outcome. Early and effective outpatient intervention improves both maternal and fetal outcomes and significantly reduces costly ER visits and hospital admissions.
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