Hyperalimentation is the procedure that involves the administration of nutrients to an individual through a vein; it does not make use of the patient’s digestive system. Hyperalimentation may be administered to individuals that are unable to absorb nutrients with the help of the intestinal tract; this could be due to an intestinal disease, very severe conditions of diarrhea or continuous vomiting. It could also be administered to patients that are under going high dose radiation or chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Other situations where this procedure is administered are: before a surgery if the patient is malnourished, post surgery if the patient is not recovering as expected or there are complications in relation to the surgery and if the person suffers from inflammatory bowel disease.
This procedure makes it possible to provide an individual with all the necessary minerals, vitamins, calories and proteins. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or parenteral nutrition is the other terms that are used to refer to this particular procedure. Hyperalimentation uses a central line and not an IV line in one’s arm, simply because the solution that is used for this procedure is highly concentrated and thus is capable of burning the tissues, if it happens to leak out of the IV site, like the arm. A central line is nothing but a special IV or intravenous line which is inserted into the chest, and is then connected to any one of the large veins which lie in close proximity to the heart. The solution that is used while administering hyperalimentation is customized to meet an individual patients needs and contains; fat emulsion, vitamins, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, amino acids and sugar or glucose. The procedure utilizes a pump in order to regulate closely, the quantity of solution that is being given.
Once the patient is allowed to go home a nutritional team will be employed in-order to help with the procedure. The patient’s nutritional status will be examined and then his or her nutritional requirements will be calculated accordingly. The solution will be changed as and when the patient’s requirements change. For example, if the individual has gradually started to take in fluids or food orally (through the mouth), then he or she, would require a lesser amount of calories from the solution. The potential complications associated with this treatment are; too much or too less glucose in the patients blood, infection, headache, nausea and catheter dislodgement.