PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Whatley

Publications and source records attributed to K Whatley.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

Topical corn oil in the management of essential fatty acid deficiency.

Conflicting anecdotal reports about the efficacy of topical linoleate in managing essential fatty acid deficiency prompted this prospective study of 10 critically ill surgical patients receiving continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Ten ml of corn oil (4800 mg of linoleate) were massaged into the skin daily commencing after 7.7 +/- 3.8 (mean +/- SD) days of fat-free intake. Plasma samples were obtained weekly. Total lipids were extracted and methylated, and fatty acids were quantitated by gas-liquid chromatography. The triene:tetraene ratio (20:3 omega 9/20:4 omega 6) increased progressively in patients despite corn oil therapy. In 89% of patients the ratio exceeded 0.2, which is diagnostic of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). Topical application of corn oil does not prevent or treat EFAD in patients on TPN.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

When does metoclopramide facilitate transpyloric intubation?

Postpyloric feeding probably reduces the incidence of tracheobronchial aspiration and improves feeding tolerance. However, duodenal intubation is often unsuccessful in critically ill patients due to gastric atony. Metoclopramide improves gastric emptying. In a pilot study, 12 adult patients were administered 10 to 20 mg of intravenous metoclopramide after weighted nasal feeding tubes had failed to spontaneously pass distal to the pylorus. In no patient did metoclopramide induce transpyloric passage of the tube. A randomized prospective study involving 10 adult patients was conducted to examine the effect of preinsertion intravenous metoclopramide on transpyloric intubation. All patients had failed to achieve spontaneous duodenal intubation. Five patients received 20 mg of metoclopramide 10 min prior to nasal insertion of a weighed feeding tube. Five control patients received no premedication. Four metoclopramide patients achieved duodenal intubation immediately. In none of the control patients did transpyloric intubation occur (p = 0.048). Metoclopramide, administered after nasogastric intubation, is ineffective in promoting transpyloric advancement of feeding tubes. There is a significant increase in transpyloric intubation when metoclopramide is administered prior to tube insertion.

Adult↗