Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parenteral nutrition: formulation, monitoring, and complications.
- Journal:
- Compendium (Yardley, PA)
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Thomovsky, Elizabeth et al.
- Affiliation:
- University of Missouri · United States
Plain-English summary
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a way to provide food and nutrients directly into the bloodstream for pets that can't eat enough on their own due to illness. While we don't have solid proof of its effectiveness in animals, studies in humans suggest that it can help improve health, shorten hospital stays, and lower overall care costs when used in the right situations. There are special PN formulas available for pets through pharmacies, and veterinarians can learn how to calculate and use these properly. The article also discusses how to monitor pets on PN and how to handle common problems that might arise. Overall, PN can be a helpful option for pets that need extra nutritional support during their recovery.
Abstract
Because decreased caloric and nutrient intake can complicate the course of both mild and serious illness, parenteral nutrition (PN) is an important feeding modality for patients unable to receive adequate enteral nutrition. Although the effectiveness of PN has not been proven in animals, human studies have shown that using PN in appropriately selected cases can improve clinical outcome, reduce hospitalization time, and even reduce the overall cost of patient care. PN formulations for animals are readily available through pharmacies. This article provides practitioners with basic information on calculating and using PN in patients. Information is also provided on monitoring patients receiving PN as well as ways to identify and overcome common complications in animals receiving PN.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17727159/