TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION

 Method of providing nutrients to the body by an IV route.

 The nutrients are a complex admixture containing proteins, carbohydrates,
fats, electrolytes, vitamins, trace minerals, and sterile water in a single
container.
 The goals of PN are to improve nutritional status, establish a positive nitrogen
balance, maintain muscle mass, promote weight maintenance or gain, and
enhance the healing process.

Indications
 Inability to ingest adequate oral food or fluids within 7 days.
 Enteral nutrition should be considered before parenteral support because it
assists in maintaining gut mucosal integrity and is typically associated with
fewer complications.

INDICATIONS FOR PARENTERAL NUTRITION

Condition/Need Examples
Insufficient oral or enteral intake Severe burns, malnutrition, short
bowel syndrome, AIDS, sepsis,
cancer
Impaired ability to ingest or absorb Paralytic ileus, Crohn’s disease, short
food orally or enterally gut, postradiation enteritis, high-
output enterocutaneous fistula
The patient is unwilling or unable to Major psychiatric illness
ingest adequate nutrients orally or
enterally
Preoperative and postoperative Extensive bowel surgery, acute
nutritional needs are prolonged pancreatitis