What are the risks of TPN? Will my child have other medical problems being on TPN?
There are risks associated with TPN. Some of the most common are: • Infection. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of infection. Before your child leaves the hospital on TPN, you will learn what the signs and symptoms of infection are. Call your child’s clinical nurse specialist or doctor immediately if he or she has a fever or experiences any of the following at their catheter site: • Tenderness • Warmth • Irritation • Draining • Swelling • Redness • Pain • TPN liver disease or damage. TPN increases the risk of having liver disease and damage. Infants and young children on TPN are more at risk for liver disease than older children and adults. The organs of infants and younger children are still developing. They are not as capable of handling the burden and strain that TPN puts on them. Children who are on TPN for a long time are also more at risk than those who are on TPN temporarily or for a short time. Some children who require an intestinal transplant may
