Metabolic complications from TPN
* EFA deficiency:
* Hyper Vitamin A & D;
* Fluid Over Load: (See CHF)
* Hypercholemic Metabolic Acidosis: from excessive Cl from IV
or from amino acid solutions (as HCL salts - more common in children or
patients w/ decrease renal f(x) );
* Hypercalcemia / Hypo Ca
* Hypoglycemia:
May occassionally occur when weaning from TPN; give D5W;
* Hyperglycemia:
- uncontrolled hyperglycemia during TPN is probably the most common
cause of serious hypernatremia;
- if not correct for several days - Non Ketotic Coma may ensue;
* Hyerphosphatemia / Hypo P;
* Hypermagnesemia / Hypo Mg
Like hyperkalemia, seen patients with renal failure;
When potassium must be reduced, magnesium must also be reduced;
* HyperKalemia
- most TPN formulations contain 40-50 mEq potassium/Lit and are
intended for pts w/ normal renal function;
- excess potassium over and above that required for maintenance and
urine losses (usually 3-5 mEq/gm nitrogen given) are included;
- potassium must be closely followed in elderly and those with
impaired renal function;
* Hypernatremia
- uncontrolled hyperglycemia during TPN is probably the most common
cause of serious hypernatremia;
- associated glycosuria cause osmotic diuresis of large volumes of salt
poor fluid, resulting in hypernatremia and a extracellular fluid
volume deficit;
* Hyponatremia:
* HyperOsmolar Nonketotic Coma:
- uusally found in patients w/ impaired insulin response
in improperly monitored patient;
- caused by excessive glucose levels, usually corrected by insulin and
re-hydration:
- if this complication occurrs, stop TPN infusion and begin infusion of
normal Saline until there is adequate volume repletion/urine output;
- following volume repletion, hypotonic solutions are infused to
decrease tonicity;
- may give modest Insulin infusion of 10-25 units
IV along w/ constant infusion of 5-10 units per hour until blood
sugar drops below 500 mg/ml;
* Azotemia
- administration of excessive amino acids can result in azotemia, as
evidenced by high BUN, and must be differentiated from
increases caused by dehydration;
* Elevated Liver function tests:
- usual cause is excessive glucose infusion;
- when primary metabolic pathway for glucose becomes saturated, excess
glucose is converted to intracellular triglycerides in the liver;
- this is especially seen when 25% dextrose solution isgiven at rates
> 125 ml per hour;
- to reverse this process, reduce the glucose load and if necessary,
substitute fat calories;
* Metabolic alkalosis:
- to treat, increase the Cl level in the solution and reduce acetate
content (may reduce further by giving less total amino acids;
Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.
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