Helping children who require long-term parenteral nutrition
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Helping children who require long-term parenteral nutrition

Claire Sadlier Paediatric gastroenterology/nutrition clinical specialist nurse, Department of child health, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff

Management of intestinal failure can be challenging. Claire Sadlier reports on an audit that reveals why individual treatment goals are important

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a therapy that is complex and can lead to serious complications such as infection of the central venous catheter. A follow-up audit beginning in 2007 showed that, in a cohort of 36, 16 children were transferred from the neonatal unit and 20 had conditions that might be similar to adult indications for PN.

The audit has underlined the fact that the use of PN should be carefully assessed, monitored and discontinued as soon as possible. Intestinal failure is the most common indication for PN and its management requires specific training.

Nursing Children and Young People. 25, 6, 14-20. doi: 10.7748/ncyp2013.07.25.6.14.e206

Correspondence

Claire.Sadlier@wales.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 21 August 2012

Accepted: 20 February 2013

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