Parenteral nutrition: Unraveling the Basics, Reasons, Varieties, and What's in Store
Parenteral feeding is a method where nutrition is directly injected into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. This is often necessary when the body's nutrition requirements can't be met through traditional methods like eating or tube feeding.
If traditional supplemental nutrition isn't enough, a healthcare professional might suggest parenteral nutrition. This process involves the use of a catheter (a flexible tube) inserted into a vein, which delivers nutrients like carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, amino acids, electrolytes, water, and trace elements directly into the bloodstream.
Comparatively, enteral nutrition relies on the gastrointestinal tract for feeding. It can be achieved through methods like tube feeding or regular eating and drinking.
There are several reasons why someone might require parenteral nutrition. These include bowel blockages, conditions leading to intestinal failure, inaccessible gastrointestinal tracts, high output fistulas, the need to rest the bowels, recurrent vomiting, or instances where oral or tube feeding prove unsuccessful.
Parenteral nutrition can be temporary or long-term, delivering partial or total nutrition needs. Healthcare professionals categorize these types based on aspects such as the duration and the location of the catheter in the body.
There are two main types: partial parenteral nutrition, which supplements dietary needs, and total parenteral nutrition, which provides complete nutrition via an intravenous tube. The method can also be classified based on the location of the catheter, whether central or peripheral.
Experiences with parenteral nutrition vary according to the type being used. Some individuals receive continuous nutrition delivery, while others get it in intervals. In a hospital setting, a nurse typically administers parenteral nutrition, while at home, a specially-trained professional can carry out the process using a peripherally-inserted central catheter (PICC).
Parenteral nutrition isn't without risks and complications. These can range from incorrect nutrient concentrations to catheter issues, infection, liver dysfunction, bleeding, and tissue damage.
A doctor's guidance is essential when discussing parenteral nutrition. One should consider the best type for their health and lifestyle needs and explore ways to limit complications.
Enrichment data highlights that parenteral nutrition may be recommended in scenarios such as severe gastrointestinal issues, malabsorption, severe alimentary tract pathology, inability to use enteral feeding, critical illness or injury, and chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease.
If a person's other nutrition needs can't be met through diet or enteral nutrition methods, parenteral nutrition might be suggested as an alternative. This form of nutrition provides essential nutrients like vitamins, amino acids, and electrolytes directly into the bloodstream when traditional methods fail.
In some cases, a combination of both parenteral and enteral nutrition may be necessary to meet a person's total nutrition requirements, providing additional nutrients that aren't fully covered by a traditional diet or enteral nutrition alone.
