Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract Parenteral nutrition refers to the provision of nutrition via the parenteral route. Nutrition should provide calories, protein, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and fluids. Adequate nutritional support is essential for the management of critically ill patients. This chapter reviews the daily nutritional requirements and the timing of parenteral nutrition. It also summarizes the effects of malnutrition and of overfeeding in the critically ill patient. It also discusses immune-enhancing nutrition and provides a quick overview of refeeding syndrome and its management. This chapter and the enteral nutrition chapter complement each other in providing the basic principles of nutrition in critically ill patients.