Total parenteral nutrition (tpn)

[Merna]

Parenteral nutrition is by definition given IV.
Partial parenteral nutrition supplies only part of daily nutritional requirements, supplementing oral intake. Many hospitalized patients are given dextrose or amino acid solutions by this method.
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) supplies all daily nutritional requirements. TPN can be used in the hospital or at home. Because TPN solutions are concentrated and can cause thrombosis of peripheral veins, a central venous catheter is usually required.
Parenteral nutrition should not be used routinely in patients with an intact gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Compared with enteral nutrition, it has the following disadvantages:

It causes more complications.
It does not preserve GI tract structure and function as well.
It is more expensive.

(See also Overview of Nutritional Support.)