A critical factor in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease is making sure patients receive sufficient nutrition. This hands-on, practical reference offers clinicians expert nutritional knowledge as well as methods for combating such situations as short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and obesity. Topics covered here include nutritional assessment, malnutrition and disease outcomes, the role of nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease, nutrition in liver failure and acute pancreatitis, support for patients with gastrointestinal cancer, enteral access and nutrition, parenteral nutrition (including vascular access) and nutrition-based home care. Because it includes clear and useful line drawings explaining techniques and treatments and comprehensive references for each topic, this is suitable as a professional reference, student text and refresher. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)