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A two part study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational protocol and consult service on parenteral nutrition (PN) utilization. Forty-one patient admissions were evaluated retrospectively and nine prospectively. Average length of hospital stay and number of days on PN were decreased significantly (p less than .05). Frequency of adverse effects were also decreased significantly (p less than .05). A positive trend toward selection of patients for enteral rather than PN was evidenced. Utilization of already available manpower and financial resources by this modified approach should contribute toward reducing costs and hazards of PN therapy, particularly for smaller hospitals with both limited requirements and resources, as well as for teaching institutions.

The pharmacokinetic parameters of ranitidine were studied following administration of a single intravenous dose in 9 critically ill infants. Ranitidine disposition was best described by a biphasic elimination curve. For 8 patients, the mean values for T 1/2, apparent volume of distribution, and total body clearance were 2.09 h, 1.61 l/kg, and 13.93 ml/min/kg, respectively. Based on simulated steady-state concentration profiles, a dose of 0.7 mg/kg administered intravenously every 6 h should maintain serum levels above 40 ng/ml for 4.7 h of the dosing interval with a wide degree of variability.

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