Does total parenteral nutrition induce gallbladder sludge formation and lithiasis?
To assess the prevalence of sludge formation and lithiasis during total parenteral nutrition, serial biliary ultrasonographic studies were performed during and after i.v. nutrition periods in 23 selected adult gastroenterological patients. All patients were free of hepatobiliary disease before i.v. nutrition. Initial sonograms of 19 patients taken at the 12th day +/- 2 days (mean +/- SEM) of i.v. nutrition were normal. Initial studies for the 4 remaining patients, which were performed on the 39th day +/- 10 days of i.v. therapy (p less than 0.001), showed gallbladder sludge but did not demonstrate lithiasis. Serial ultrasonographic studies indicated that the percentage of sludge-positive patients during parenteral nutrition increased from 6% during the first 3 wk to 50% between the fourth and the sixth weeks and reached 100% in patients receiving i.v. nutritional therapy for greater than 6 wk. Gallstone formation was demonstrated in 6 of 14 sludge-forming patients but was not observed
