[Home parenteral nutrition in children. Evaluation after 8 years' activity with 88 patients].

In cases where an anatomic or functional amputation of the small bowel dictates that parenteral nutrition needs to be prolonged, it is essential to offer the child the best possible quality of life. In this regard, being in his home environment is an important component. Over a 8 year-period (1980-1988), 88 children went home with cyclic parenteral nutrition. In 34, parental nutrition was eventually discontinued: 40 are still parenteral nutrition-dependent and 14 died. In most cases, the growth and quality of life were satisfactory. Complications consisted essentially of infections, with 1 septicemia for 692 days of home parenteral nutrition (HPN). In the light of these results, HPN appears to be the best option for prolonged parenteral nutrition-dependent children. However, it cannot be set up without the help of a suitable center able to follow the children and to ensure the logistic support necessary for this highly technical and demanding type of care.