Hyperalimentation is a feeding technique in which all essential
nutrients are infused intravenously to sustain patients who cannot eat.
Although no panacea for anorexia nervosa, hyperalimentation can provide
calories for intractable, malnourished patients. The authors describe the
psychiatric and hyperalimentation treatment for four severely anorectic
patients who had lost up to 44% of their body weight before entering the
study. With treatment their percentage of ideal weight rose from a mean of
59% to a mean of 81% during hospitalization, and to a mean of 94% on
outpatient follow-up of 5--16 months. The authors discuss the indications,
limitations, and need for interdisciplinary collaboration in this
treatment.Abstract Teaser