Clinical Nutrition in Gastroenterology

Clinical Nutrition in Gastroenterology - R. V. Heatley

These Guidelines for Paediatric Parenteral Nutrition have been developed as a mutual project of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN; espghan.org) and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN; espen.org). The guidelines are addressed primarily to professionals involved in supplying and prescribing parenteral nutrition (PN) to infants, children and adolescents. Due to the scarcity of good quality clinical trials in children many of the recommendations are extrapolated from adult studies and are based on expert opinion. The document represents the consensus of view of a multidisciplinary working party of professionals, who are all actively involved in the management of children treated with PN. Guidelines are intended to serve as an aid to clinical judgement, not to replace it, as outlined by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/50/section1.html). Guidelines do not provide answers to every clinical question; nor does adherence to guidelines ensure a successful outcome in every case. The ultimate decision about clinical management of an individual patient will always depend on the clinical circumstances (and wishes) of the patient, and on the clinical judgement of the health care team. These guidelines are not intended to be construed or to serve as a standard of medical care.