ABSTRACT
Parenteral nutrition refers to the administration of nutrients by the intravenous route. This method of nutrition is used in order to prevent or treat starvation and its complications when feedings via the enteral route are not possible. Determination of which patients require nutritional support is best accomplished by a careful history and physical examination. Many biochemical and anthropometric parameters are used in nutritional assessment, but a weight loss of greater than 10% of the total body weight in a nonobese patient remains the major factor in determining necessity for nutritional support. There are many conditions where there are indications for the use of the parenteral (as opposed to the enteral) route for delivery of nutrients. Some of the more important ones are listed in Table 1. *
