Intravenous feeding - complications - their prevention and management

Intravenous feeding is a potentially hazardous and expensive form of nutritional treatment. Complications may be associated with the intravenous catheter and delivery system, mainly injury to the great vessels or adjacent structures including the pleura. Sepsis is a constant threat and meticulous technique is required to minimise the danger. Deficiency states may be seen if nutritional requirements are not met. Other metabolic problems which may arise are hyperglycaemia and rebound hypoglycaemia, jaundice and a recently described respiratory distress syndrome due to an increase in carbon dioxide production.