Define the Parenteral Nutrition Support?

Parenteral nutrition support is the provision of dextrose, amino acids, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and trace elements with or without fat. The initial considerations are:

• Calorie and protein goals -based on nutritional assessment and keeping in mind the maintenance and growth needs.
• The duration of TPN and thus choosing the different access routes (central/ peripheral).
• Total fluid allowance.

Parenteral nutrition is more used for preterm infants who are less than 1500 g and less than 30 weeks of gestation age, as their GI tract is immature. As both risks and benefits are found to be associated with TPN, thus, various nutrition routes are used as per required individually.