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TPN Management

Houston Kidney Specialists Center -  - Nephrology

Nephrology & Internal Medicine located in Cypress and North Houston Area, TX

Nephrology & Internal Medicine & Nephrology located in Willowbrook Office, Houston, TX & Memorial Hermann Cypress, Cypress, TX

If you or someone you love is unable to meet their nutritional needs because they can’t eat or adequately digest food, they may benefit from total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The skilled team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center in Houston and Cypress, Texas, provide TPN management. This includes creating your customized TPN solution and monitoring nutritional status and health. To learn more about TPN management, call the office nearest you or book a consultation online.

TPN Management Q & A

What is total parenteral nutrition (TPN)?

TPN is a form of nutritional support administered through an intravenous (IV) line that goes directly into your bloodstream. It provides all the calories, protein, fat, and nutrients your body needs to function normally.

Who needs TPN?

Your primary care provider, medical specialist, or expert at Houston Kidney Specialists Center determines if you need TPN. If you’re unable to eat by mouth and part or all of your digestive system isn’t working, then you may need TPN.

Conditions that benefit from TPN include:

  • Short-bowel syndrome
  • Microvillus inclusion disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Cancer
  • Ischemic bowel
  • Abnormal bowel function

The goal of your TPN treatment is to prevent or treat malnutrition. When or if your digestive system is working, other forms of nutrition support may be added. These may include food by mouth or a feeding tube to supply liquid nutrition directly into your digestive system.

Though TPN provides adequate nutritional support, you need to use your digestive system when it's medically safe, to prevent tissue atrophy. 

What is TPN management?

TPN management is one of the many services offered at the Houston Kidney Specialists Center. During TPN management, the team runs regular lab work to assess nutritional health. 

They also schedule routine in-office visits to check your weight and conduct a physical exam to assess your overall health and wellness.  

They use the data collected from your lab work and examination to create your customized TPN solution, which contains:

  • Carbohydrates
  • Protein
  • Fat
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals

In addition to providing essential nutrients, your TPN also maintains hydration. If you have a condition that requires a fluid restriction, such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the team adjusts your TPN formula.

They customize TPN formulas for patients with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and determine your TPN infusion rate. 

When possible, they create plans that allow you to receive your TPN infusion at night while you sleep so you can continue your usual day-time activities and responsibilities. You may need TPN for weeks or months, or in some cases, the rest of your life. 

To schedule a TPN management consultation at Houston Kidney Specialists Center, call the office or book online today.