What you can expect

Before the procedure

Parenteral nutrition is delivered through a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that has been inserted into a vein. Doctors with special training in nutrition work with you to determine the type of catheter that's best for you. The two main catheter options for delivering parenteral nutrition are:

• A tunneled catheter, such as a Hickman catheter, has a segment of tube outside the skin and another portion tunneled under the skin before it enters the vein.
• An implanted catheter is inserted completely beneath the skin and needs to be accessed with a needle in order to infuse the parenteral nutrition.

During the procedure

The catheter placement procedure is usually done after you've received heavy sedation or anesthesia. The catheter will be inserted into a large vein leading to the heart. Parenteral nutrition through this large vein can deliver nutrients quickly and lower the risk of catheter infection.

After the procedure

Your team will use laboratory testing to monitor your responses to parenteral nutrition. They will also periodically evaluate your fluid balance, the catheter site, and your ability to switch to tube feeding or normal oral feeding.

You will have follow-up exams to assess your parenteral nutrition plan. Depending on your reason for using parenteral nutrition, at some point your care team may help you decrease the amount you need. In some cases, your team will help wean you off it entirely.