Who needs TPN?

Who needs Tpn?

Patients who can`t meet their nutritional needs by oral or enteral feedings may require IV nutritional supplementation or TPN. Generally, this treatment is prescribed for any patient who can`t absorb nutrients from the GI tract for more than 10 days. More specific indications include:

Debilitating illness lasting longer than 2 weeks

Loss of 10% or more of pre-illness weight

Serum albumin level below 3.5g/dl

Excessive nitrogen loss from a wound infection, a fistula, or an abscess

Renal or hepatic failure

Nonfunction of the GI tract lasting for 5 to 7 days.