Study protocol: a randomized clinical trial of total parenteral nutrition in malnourished surgical patients.

CSP #221 is a randomized multiinstitutional clinical trial to assess the efficacy of 10 d of perioperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in reducing morbidity and mortality in malnourished patients undergoing intraperitoneal and/or intrathoracic operations. In this paper a detailed protocol for the clinical efficacy trial is presented primarily as a reference document for use in interpretation of the results of the clinical trial. It is also anticipated, however, that review of this protocol may be useful to other investigators planning future clinical nutrition intervention trials.