Home parenteral nutrition. Components, application, and complications.

Home parenteral nutrition allows patients with gut failure to maintain a near-normal life-style. The technique restores normal nutritional status, and patients often are able to resume their previous occupation. A safe, permanent venous access is first provided by placement of a catheter in the subclavian vein. The patient is then taught how to care for the catheter, how to mix nutrient fluids and use the intravenous fluid infusion pump, how to monitor metabolic balance, and how to do emergency repairs of the catheter. Complications relate mainly to infection in the catheter exit site and to metabolic imbalance, and prophylactic measures should be taken.