Electrolyte and drug management in nutritional support.

Interventional nutritional support is a complex therapeutic entity. Metabolic complications associated with this therapy are numerous. It is imperative to monitor electrolytes very closely during parenteral and enteral nutritional support and to correct deficiencies or to compensate for increases in serum concentrations when appropriate. It is also critical to observe patients receiving drug therapy to avoid untoward drug-nutrient interactions and to be able to compensate for adverse metabolic effects of medications. To achieve successful nutritional support, careful monitoring of electrolytes and drugs is necessary.