Dependency on intravenous nutrition

What it means

Inability to be weaned from intravenous (parenteral) nutrition, as judged by the hydration status (urine output, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, urine sodium concentration), ability to maintain weight, stool output, and serum electrolyte status.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) refers to the application of an intravenous nutritional solution in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders that prevent them from absorbing a sufficient amount of nutrients from the gut to maintain health. The solution contains protein, carbohydrates (in the form of glucose), glucose, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Dependency on TPN is essentially a manifestation of the continued severity of a gastrointestinal disorder.

Rare diseases that can present with this3

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Dependency on IV nutrition