[Use of fat emulsions in nutritional therapy of intensive care patients].

In a prospective controlled randomized study applicability and security of fat infusion in severely ill patients was investigated. Besides the aim to define precise criteria of indications and contraindications the group I patients received substrate support as carbohydrates, amino acids and fat in an amount with carbohydrates and fat covered the total energy expenditure which was calculated from measured oxygen consumption data. In group II carbohydrates alone covered the total energy expenditure and the same amount of fat given in group I was applied in addition. Our aim was to find out if the overload of 20% of applied substrate is tolerated or not. With the applied dosages of 1.2 g fat/kg B.W./day it is shown that homeostasis of the patient remains undisturbed even with the surplus of substrate if the indication for fat is given. Special interest focused on the interrelationship between carbohydrate and fat metabolism during the posttraumatic hormonally fixed metabolic situation.