Parenteral feeding in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus treated by surgery: energy and nitrogen requirements.

Nutritional assessment and requirements of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus treated by surgery are based on three series of patients: 1) the nutritional state of 22 assessed on admission, using recognized nutritional markers, the majority of whom were found nutritionally deficient; notably 72% were in negative nitrogen (N) balance. 2) Another series of 52 patients was based on the relationship between dysphagia and loss of weight and negative N balance; 48% were severely dysphagic and had lost an average 8.5% of their usual weight, and 89% were in negative N balance. Thus, the association between the two clinical markers and the N balance was clearly indicated. 3) Postoperative calorie and N requirements necessary to maintain a positive N balance were assessed and found to be 40 to 45 kcal/kg body wt and 0.2 to 0.25 g N/kg body wt.