What Are the Complications of Parenteral Nutrition?

Complications of parenteral nutrition include pneumothorax, hemothorax, air embolism, phlebitis, infection at the puncture site, hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, liver and gallbladder system damage, etc. When performing aseptic parenteral nutrition, it is necessary to ensure the sterility of the solution and infusion equipment. The nutrient solution must be prepared in a sterile environment, and it is strictly prohibited to add other therapeutic drugs to the nutrient solution. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, fever, pain, and infection. Complications of parenteral nutrition: 1. Technical complications. These complications are related to the placement or retention of the central venous catheter, mainly including pneumothorax, vascular injury, nerve injury, thoracic duct injury, air embolism, etc. The most serious one is air embolism, which can lead to death. 2. Metabolic complications: insufficient supplementation includes electrolyte imbalance, trace element deficiency, essential fatty acid deficiency, etc. Abnormal glucose metabolism includes hyperglycemia caused by unreasonable insulin dosage, hypoglycemia, and complications caused by excessive glucose usage (fatty liver). Complications of parenteral nutrition itself include bile stasis, bile sludge and gallstone formation, elevated liver enzymes, decreased intestinal barrier function, secondary intestinal bacteria and endotoxin transfer, and intestinal-derived infection. 3. Infectious complications are mainly catheter-related sepsis.