An intestine unable to absorb food does not mean dying of starvation: the medicine has so-called parenteral nutrition. This consists of infusing a mixture of nutrients intravenously, without passing through the digestive system . And sometimes it may be necessary to do it for life. Chronic patients who feed in this way always carry bags of serum, connected to a catheter that provides direct access to their blood system.
The Spanish Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition distinguishes two ways of doing it. One is via central line. This consists of supplying the nutrients through the superior vena cava or another great central vein. The other method is called peripheral. In this case, as the name suggests, small-caliber peripheral veins are chosen. This same institution also highlights that parenteral nutrition is often a key strategy to keep the patient alive while other therapies take effect. In fact, sometimes the very nutrients you receive are the ones that have a therapeutic effect .
It also points out that the aging of the population makes an increase in the use of artificial nutrition foreseeable. To select the most appropriate nutritional formula, it is necessary to measure the patient’s energy expenditure and assess the calories he needs , without ruling out fats, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. And just as the diet changes according to our needs, also in these patients it will be necessary to take into account, for example, if they need to consume more if they do more physical exercise or require weight gain at any given time.
Image: Toshiyuki Imai
