Critically ill patients and fat emulsions.

In critically ill patients, lipid tolerance may be impaired. In ICU, patients are usually given TPN including fat emulsions. If sedation with propofol is given simultaneously the fat load increases and may exceed the maximal clearing capacity of exogenous fat emulsion unless the administration of the parenteral fat is adjusted to take account of the lipid contained in propofol. An accumulation of fat may result in the so-called 'fat overload syndrome'. Close monitoring of serum triglyceride concentration is therefore recommended to avoid fat overload.