Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition in the PICU Patient

Pediatric patient unable to meet their nutritional needs via the oral or enteral route will require PN support. If enteral feeds cannot be started, PN should be started by Hospital Day #3 in infants or previously malnourished patients and by Hospital Day #3 - 5 in previously well nourished children. The following are common indications for PN in pediatric and critically ill patients:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) anomalies & conditions
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Intractable diarrhea
  • Short gut syndrome (initially)
  • Cancer in the presence of underlying malnutrition and/or requiring intensive chemotherapy; inability to tolerate enteral feedings.
  • Critical illness (trauma or sepsis) in the face of ileus, abdominal trauma or persistent GI intolerance

To determine various aspects of pediatric parenteral nutrition management, select the appropriate category below: