Background The use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for palliative indications is increasing internationally and is the leading indication in some countries. Discharge on HPN can be complex in metabolically unstable patients and requires intestinal failure expertise. Methods Between 2012 and 2018, we performed a retrospective analysis aiming to assess the impact of a novel remote discharge pathway for palliative HPN patients. This was evaluated using a quality improvement approach. Results One hundred and twenty‐five patients with active malignancy [mean (range) age 58 (25–80) years] were referred to the intestinal failure unit (IFU) for remote discharge. Of 82 patients were discharged from the oncology Centre on HPN using the pathway. The remaining 43 patients either declined HPN or the Oncology team felt that the patient became too unwell for HPN or died prior to discharge. There was an increase in patients referred for remote discharge from 13 in 2012 to 43 in 2017. The mean number of days between receipt of referral by the IFU to discharge on HPN from the oncology centre reduced from 29.4 days to 10.1 days. Following remote discharge, the mean number of days on HPN was 215.9 days. Catheter‐related blood stream infection rates in this cohort were very low at 0.169 per 1000 catheter days. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate the remote safe, effective and rapid discharge of patients requiring palliative HPN between two hospital sites. This allows patients with a short prognosis more time in their desired location.

RationaleOur intestinal failure unit provides care for patients from a wide geographical area. Patients dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are routinely reviewed in the clinic at 3–6 monthly intervals. Between March 2008 and 2015, we noted a significant rise in the number of patients under our care, with an associated 51% increase in clinic appointments offered. We evaluated whether telemedicine would provide a strategy to reduce patients’ need to travel while maintaining safe clinical standards.MethodsImplementation began in December 2015 via patient consultation and small tests of change. Clinical data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. Remote video consultation discussions were carried out via internet video call service (Skype). An anonymous satisfaction questionnaire was offered to patients for completion following consultation. The number of miles saved by obviating the need to attend hospital was calculated for each patient.ResultsDuring the study period, patients receiving HPN rose by 18% to 288. Twenty-five patients used telemedicine for HPN follow-up, three of these for follow-up with the psychologist. By avoiding hospital attendance, this saved a mean travel distance of 56.7 miles with a total of 18 346.6 cumulative miles saved. Sixty-three per cent of patients rated their satisfaction with the system at ≥90%, with a mean satisfaction of 85%. Eight per cent of the telemedicine cohort was admitted with an HPN complication, compared with an admission rate of 24% for the whole HPN cohort. One emergency admission was avoided.ConclusionTelemedicine can obviate the need for clinic attendance in HPN-dependent patients, so reducing the need of individuals with chronic illness to travel while maintaining standards for follow-up.

Background Although international guidelines support the use of commercially available multichamber bags (MCBs), the majority of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in the United Kingdom has been compounded PN, tailored to the patient. However, national capacity limitations in aseptic facilities have necessitated the increased use of MCBs. There are no studies evaluating the appropriateness or benefits of using a “hybrid” regimen incorporating both MCBs and compounded PN in patients already established on compounded HPN. Methods This was a cross‐sectional audit evaluation conducted on September 1, 2021, at a national United Kingdom reference center. All HPN‐dependent adults prescribed HPN for chronic intestinal failure were assessed by a multidisciplinary team for their potential of being switched to a “hybrid” regimen of MCBs and compounded PN. Results Of 180 patients currently receiving compounded HPN that included intravenous nitrogen with glucose ± lipid, 65 (36.1%) were deemed clinically suitable for a hybrid PN regimen, with minimal variance in PN constituents per week (volume 0%, non‐nitrogen kilocalories 0%, nitrogen 0%, fat −0.2%, glucose 0%, sodium 0%, potassium 0%, calcium 0%, magnesium 0%, and phosphate −0.1%) and requiring no additional central venous catheter manipulations. The potential reduction in compounded PN would reduce by 3627 bags per year, equating to a cost saving of £141,453 per year (equivalent to $178,885). Conclusion Wider use of hybrid MCB/compounded HPN regimens could lead to a reduction in the need for compounded PN to be produced by aseptic facilities. Further evaluation of acceptability and tolerance of hybrid regimens by patients already receiving compounded HPN is required.

Background & Aim: There are minimal reports of pregnancy in the chronic intestinal failure (CIF)/ home parenteral nutrition (HPN) population, with some concern relating to the risk associated with such pregnancies. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate pregnancy experience and outcomes in patients with CIF requiring HPN in a national UK CIF referral centre.Method: All known pregnancies in patients treated with HPN for CIF between 1982 and 2016 were identified retrospectively from a prospectively maintained database. Maternal and foetal outcomes were collated, along with PN requirements before and during pregnancy.Results: There were 5 pregnancies in 5 mothers in our cohort consisting of over 700 patients, males and females. The median age at conception was 28 years (range 24-33 years). The median duration on HPN prior to pregnancy was 26 months (range 4-85 months). One patient had Crohn’s disease, another had pan-enteric dysmotility and the other three patients had ischaemic complications leading to short bowel syndrome (SBS). All mothers were intensively monitored in an obstetric clinic and a dedicated CIF multi-disciplinary clinic throughout pregnancy. There were 2/5 preterm deliveries. One of the preterm deliveries was associated with spontaneous labour and the other had a planned induction as a result of maternal clinical need. Neonatal complications were seen in both prenates. There were no recorded maternal catheter related line infections during the 5 pregnancies.Conclusion: Successful pregnancy whilst receiving HPN is feasible but requires close, intensive monitoring and dedicated optimisation of PN in order to minimise maternal and foetal complications. All women of child-bearing age on HPN should be counselled about pregnancy.Abbreviations: ALP: alkaline phosphatase; ALT: alanine transaminase; CIF: chronic intestinal failure; HPN: home parenteral nutrition; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IF: intestinal failure; IFALD: Intestinal Failure associated liver disease; LFT: liver function test; PN: parenteral nutrition; RDA: Recommended daily allowance; SBS: short bowel syndrome; TPN: total parenteral nutrition.

Background Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life‐saving therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure but can be associated with a degree of psychological distress. The factors associated with the need for antidepressants (ADs) in this cohort have not yet been described. Methods The study involved prospective data collection from patients attending an HPN clinic at a national intestinal failure referral center. Patients requiring HPN as a result of active malignancy were excluded. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to AD usage; demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic characteristics, and intravenous supplementation (IVS) regimens were compared between groups. Results A total of 184 patients were recruited between July 2018 and April 2019, with an overall prevalence of AD use of 41.7% (70/168 patients). Daily mean IVS volume was significantly higher among patients taking AD (“AD” group; 2125.48 ± 991.8 ml/day, “no‐AD” group; 1828.54 ± 847.0 ml/day, P = .039), with the proportion of patients needing high‐volume IVS (≥3000 ml/day) being 3 times higher in the AD group (20.0%(14/70 patients) vs 6.1% (6/98 patients), P = .006). The average energy IVS infusion per day was similar between the groups. Conclusion This is the first study to demonstrate that AD use correlates with higher IVS volume rather than energy requirements in HPN patients, suggesting that high IVS volume requirements may be better associated with the patient's disease burden. Early and tailored mental health intervention may be beneficial in those with high IVS volume requirements.