Home artificial nutrition in children

Home enteral and parenteral nutritions are logical alternatives to long-ter m hospitalization when a long-term nutritional support is required. They ar e effective and safe methods, compatible with a good quality of life. Major cost savings have been demonstrated as a result of home nutrition rather t han hospitalization. Nevertheless, one must not underestimate the importanc e of the families' teaching and the medical follow-up to prevent somatic an d psychological complications. The quality of home nutrition programmes dep ends on the organization of the nutrition support teams based on close coll aboration between the various involved professionals. (C) 2001 Editions sci entifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.