[Risk of malnutrition and the role of artificial nourishment].

Malnutrition represents a serious risk factor, which can bring about prolongation of the hospitalization, higher incidence of complications and higher mortality. Such relation is well documented in several epidemiologic studies. The treatment of malnutrition, though large progress has been reached in the treatment, forms and indications of enteral and parenteral artificial nourishment, is based first of all on the elimination of the original cause, i.e. in the treatment of the primary disease. Nevertheless the role of artificial nourishment is irreplaceable. It serves as a supportive therapy namely to overcome the period till the alimentation per os is restituted. In other cases, when the normal alimentation route is not possible to restitute in sufficient extent, the parenteral or enteral artificial nourishment remain the permanent necessity and the life rescuing treatment.