Infusion Patients Benefit from Dedicated Nutrition Clinicians

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. (January 22, 2018)—Option Care Enterprises, Inc., an independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services, is presenting data highlighting the importance of clinical excellence in nutrition support at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) 2018 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference. Featured research includes an abstract on long-term teduglutide patients, as well as an oral presentation on the impact of re-feeding risk on hospital readmissions and ability to achieve goal parenteral nutrition (PN) for home-initiated PN patients.

An observational study of long-term (>36 months) teduglutide patients provides insight into the characteristics of this unique patient population, finding that 85 percent (34 out of 40 patients) were able to wean completely or reduce their amount of PN support. Teduglitide [rDNA origin] therapy is a prescription medication used in adults with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) who are dependent on intravenous nutrition and/or hydration (parenteral support), that may increase the absorptive capacity of the remaining intestine (bowel), potentially reducing the patient’s need for parenteral nutrition support.

In a second study, Option Care researchers determined that patients both at risk and not at risk for re-feeding syndrome can safely initiate PN in the home setting for a variety of medical conditions with the support of a multidisciplinary nutrition support team. Patients benefited from increased quality of life, decreased hospital readmissions and improved economic advantages when compared to those receiving nutrition support in an inpatient or skilled nursing facility setting. The results of this study indicate that consideration of initiation of PN in the home setting may reduce costs and the burdens of hospitalization in appropriately selected patients.

Parenteral nutrition initiated in the home setting requires specific assessments and ongoing management by a nutrition support team to monitor for risk of re-feeding syndrome, preventing complications and achieving goals of the patient’s PN therapy.

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