Who needs TPN?
TPN is needed when you cannot eat food by mouth. You may need TPN if you cannot get enough nutrition from your diet for seven days or more. You may also need TPN if you have: • Infection or problems in your pancreas, intestines (bowel), or other body organs. • Food tubes going into your stomach that cannot give you enough nutrition. • AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). • Some types of cancer. • Starvation or anorexia (an-or-EKS-e-uh). These are problems that occur when you do not eat for a long time. • Serious burns. If you have any of the following, tell your caregiver before you start your TPN treatment: • Allergies, especially to vitamins, eggs, oils, or peanuts. • Blood clotting problems. • High blood cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-all). • Liver, kidney, or heart disease. • Pancreas problems such as pancreatitis (pan-kree-uh-TI-tis). • Pregnant or breast feeding. How is TPN given? Your caregiver will place a special IV line in your arm, upper chest, or neck. Your TPN will be conne
