ABSTRACT

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The prognosis for individuals afflicted with an upper gastrointestinal malignancy is relatively poor. With limited treatment options available to this patient population, nutrition support becomes a major component of palliative care, with the aim to correct nutritional defects and prevent further cachexia. The success of a supportive nutritional regimen either by enteral or parenteral administration is dependent on much more than just providing a calorie load to the patient. The provider must

parenteral nutrition is also of paramount importance.