Parenteral Nutrition

Understanding Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition is a way of delivering essential nutrients and minerals to a person’s body via intravenous (IV) infusion. It is used when a person is unable to meet their nutritional needs by other means like oral or enteral intake. This method of artificial nutrition is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and is typically used for short-term illness, burns, cancer, long-term diseases, and other conditions.

Benefits of Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition provides numerous benefits to patients by offering complete nutrition and balancing out deficiencies of nutrients or minerals in the body. Some of the advantages include:

Easily digested and absorbed
Assists in improving energy levels and strength
Provides an immediate source of nutrients to those who are unable to eat
Decreases stress on the digestive system
Improves the appetite
Reduces pain and inflammation
Improves the body’s ability to heal and fight infection

Types of Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition can be tailored to provide the necessary amount of essential nutrients to an individual. The types of parenteral nutrition include:

Sugar-based infusions: Infusions based on carbohydrates provide energy to the body. These fluids may also contain electrolytes, fat, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Fat emulsion infusions: These are infusions based on fat, which can be used to provide lipids, vitamins, and minerals.
Amino acid solutions: Amino acid solutions provide essential and non-essential amino acids to the body.

Risks of Parenteral Nutrition

While parenteral nutrition can provide many benefits to critically ill patients or those who cannot digest foods, it can also cause complications if not done properly. Possible risks associated with parenteral nutrition include:

Risk of infection
Inflammation of veins
Gastric irritation
Allergic reactions
Liver damage
Hyperglycemia
Fluid overload
Blood clotting

Conclusion

Parenteral nutrition can be a powerful tool for those who cannot get the nutrients they need through other means. It should be carefully managed, however, as there are risks associated with it. It is important to speak with your doctor before starting parenteral nutrition to ensure that it is the best course of action for your specific health needs.