[Glucose or sugar substitutes in parenteral infusions? The choice of carbohydrates in postoperative infusion therapy].

The aim of parenteral nutrition should be to optimise fluid, energy and nitrogen balance. In the post-traumatic or post-operative phase a stress induced glucose intolerance may occur and it may become difficult to meet the patient's energy requirements with glucose alone. For these reasons the use of sugar substitutes (fructose, sorbitol and xylitol) in combination with glucose is recommended as an alternative. Patients receiving a mixed sugar solution of glucose, fructose and xylitol at a ratio of 1:2:1 require less exogenous insulin and yet maintain a lower blood glucose concentration. Used in limited quantities, we encountered no side effects either in patients undergoing elective surgery or requiring intensive care.