Parenteral nutrition at home in advanced cancer patients.

There is controversy regarding the utility of parenteral nutrition in advanced cancer patients. In selected populations, such as those with digestive tract cancers, death may result from the absence of oral intake and not progression of disease. In some cases, patients and relatives request that artificial nutrition begun in the hospital continue after discharge. Clinical experience with the management of home parenteral nutrition in 13 cancer patients is described to highlight the ethical and technical problems that emerge during the treatment of such patients.