Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation
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Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a way of providing nutrition intravenously when a patient cannot take food by mouth or by enteral feeding. The nutrients that the body needs to grow and develop bypass the normal digestive system and enter the patient directly through a thin tube inserted into a vein.
Most children requiring PN have the solution infused over 12-24 hours on a daily basis. If PN is required for longer term support, the infusion time is shortened as tolerated, on a gradual basis. Complications at this stage are usually related to the imbalance of electrolytes and possibly infection resulting from the use of a central vein access catheter into the blood. |
| What is in my child's PN solution? |
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Your child's PN may include a combination of carbohydrates (for energy), proteins (for muscle strength), lipids (fat), electrolytes, vitamins, and trace elements.
Even though PN often includes lipids, it will not make your child fat. Everyone needs calories, protein, and fat, in addition to other substances, to stay healthy. Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium. They are important for maintaining almost every organ in your body, and help your heart, muscles, and nerves to work properly. Vitamins include: A, D, E, K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, and cyanocobalamin. Trace elements include zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium. |
| When should I call my child's nurse? |
Call if your child:
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