A clinical trial of hyperalimentation in children with metastatic malignancies.

In a controlled, randomized prospective clinical trial the utility of intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) in the administration of and tolerance to chemotherapy was tested. The conclusions reached were 1) IVH is safe with a tolerable infection rate; 2) infectious complications correlate significantly with the nutritional status of the patient, with the presence of IVH being only a secondary factor; 3) IVH may be used to rehabilitate patients nutritionally, even those on intensive chemotherapy; 4) the ability to deliver chemotherapy to patients seems to be improved by IVH, especially in malnourished patients in a late stage of disease.