Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of parenteral nutrition support with a lipid emulsion formulation (containing
soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil [SMOF]) in intensive care patients following major
gastrointestinal surgeries. Methods According to a randomized, prospective and case-controlled design, 72 intensive care
patients following major gastrointestinal surgeries between January and December, 2014 were randomized equally into SMOF
group and control group to receive parenteral nutrition support with SMOF and medium or long chain lipid emulsion,
respectively. Before and at 4 and 9 days after commencement of parenteral nutrition support, the patients were examined for
alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (propagated), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6),
and endotoxin levels. The patients’ average length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), the days of using antibiotics, and the
incidence rate of postoperative complication were recorded. Results On day 4 postoperatively, the levels of CRP and IL-6 were
significantly lower in SMOF group than in the control group (t=2.669 and 2.676, respectively; P<0.05), and on day 9, the
patients in SMOF group showed significantly lower levels of ALT, TBIL, CRP and IL-6 (t=2.487, 3.497, 3.762, 2.180, respectively;
P<0.05) than the control group, but ALB and endotoxin levels remained comparable between the two groups. The average
length of stay in ICU and the days of using antibiotics were significantly shorter in SMOF group than in the control group (t=
2.94 and 2.17, respectively; P<0.05); SMOF group showed a lower incidence of postoperative infections than the control group,
but the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=1.047, P>0.05). Conclusion For intensive care patients following major
gastrointestinal surgeries, postoperative parenteral nutrition support with SMOF can effectively reduce the release of
inflammatory mediators, protect important visceral functions, reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of ICU
stay, and improve the prognosis of the patients.