disorders of nutrition
Intravenous Feeding
Procedure for Intravenous Feeding
Because the central venous catheter must remain in place for a long time, infections are a risk. To reduce the risk, health care practitioners use strict sterile techniques when inserting and maintaining the catheter. For example, they do the following: Clean the skin at the insertion point before inserting the catheter Change the tubing connecting the catheter to the bag of formula every day Change the dressings that hold the catheter in place every other day Using the catheter only for intravenous feeding also helps reduce the risk of infection. To place the catheter, doctors insert a needle through the skin into the vein, then thread a guide wire through the needle. The needle is removed, and the catheter is passed over the guide wire, which is then removed. A small ultrasound device may be used to guide the placement of the catheter, and an x-ray may be taken afterward to confirm that the placement is correct. Often, the catheter is placed in the subclavian vein, under the collarbone. The catheter may be inserted into a vein in the neck if it is to be used only during a hospital stay. This figure shows the blood vessel (subclavian vein) in the chest that can be used for intravenous feeding. An interdisciplinary nutrition team (including a doctor, dietitian, pharmacist, and nurse), if available, should monitor the person's progress. They regularly measure body weight, the number of blood cells in blood ( Complete blood count ), and levels of If total parenteral nutrition is given outside the hospital, the person is taught to recognize the symptoms of infection, and home nurses visit regularly to check for problems. 