Dallas
214-456-8000
Fax: 214-456-8005
Plano
469-497-2505
F: 469-497-2511
Park Cities
469-488-7000
Fax: 469-488-7001
Prosper
469-303-5000
Fax: 214-867-9511
Children’s Health℠ is home to a pediatric gastroenterology team ranked among the nation’s top pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. Our skilled doctors, dietitians, nurses and other providers are experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of digestive disorders, from the common to the complex. We use the latest tests and treatments, including parenteral nutrition, to help your child grow and thrive.
214-456-8000
Fax: 214-456-8005
469-497-2505
F: 469-497-2511
469-488-7000
Fax: 469-488-7001
469-303-5000
Fax: 214-867-9511
Sometimes, a child's digestive system can't process food or absorb nutrients the way it should. Parenteral nutrition gives your child liquid nutrients through a thin tube, also called a catheter. Our expert surgeons and radiologists insert this tube into one of your child’s veins. The tube sends liquid nutrients directly into your child’s bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system.
The liquid nutrients (solution) include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Our team prescribes the exact mixture based on your child’s specific health needs. The tube delivers the solution into their bloodstream continuously.
Parenteral nutrition is different from enteral nutrition, also called tube feeding, which provides nutrients directly to the stomach for digestion.
Depending on their specific health needs, your child might need total parenteral nutrition alone, or in tandem with enteral nutrition. Some children may need total parenteral nutrition for years, or even permanently, if they have a chronic (long-term) condition that affects their ability to digest food.
Our gastroenterology team use different types of catheters in different areas:
Parenteral nutrition is a lifesaving feeding method that provides a child with the nutrients and calories they need to grow strong and be healthy.
Your child may need parenteral nutrition if:
Although rare, side effects can occur with parenteral nutrition.
These may include:
To help reduce the risk of complications, our team will provide complete instructions for you and your child’s other caregivers. We explain how to take care of your child’s line and the insertion site, how to administer the nutrition, and what to do in case of an emergency.
Some possible risks of parenteral nutrition:
Contact your child’s doctor right away if your child experiences:
Children’s Health has over 50 patients on at-home parenteral nutrition. The team closely monitors these children for side effects, like infection or effects on the liver. And they have a very low rate of these effects due to the careful training provided to families by the care team.
Parenteral nutrition requires attaching an intravenous (IV) catheter to your child. These procedures are minor, but it’s important to know how to support your child before, during and after.
One of our surgical experts will place your child’s IV during a short procedure. Your child’s care team will walk you through what your child’s surgical preparation will look like.
To place the IV, your child will need medications called anesthesia. Anesthesia puts your child in a sleep-like state so they are comfortable during the procedure and will not remember it. Your child’s care team will explain how to prepare your child.
Parenteral nutrition involves delivering nutrients directly into your child’s bloodstream using an IV catheter. Doctors work with dietitians and pharmacists to fill an IV bag with a nutrient-rich solution and attach a small tube to carry the solution from the bag to your child’s body.
After our team places an IV for your child, we will give you and your family detailed instructions on how to care for it. Our specially trained gastroenterologists, dietitians and nurses will create an individualized feeding schedule and daily calorie intake for your child. They will also show you how to make sure your child’s IV is working properly.
At first, when your child is in the hospital, doctors will make sure they're getting the right nutrients through parenteral nutrition and that they're gaining weight with the current formula. When your child goes home, they will have lab tests every week to check their health and make any necessary changes to their nutrients. You'll also receive new nutrition IV bags from our team every week, delivered straight to your house.
Our child life services team helps education children and their families on their parenteral nutrition. The child life experts also help your child emotionally prepare for the procedure, and life with parenteral nutrition.
The award-winning pediatric gastroenterologists at Children's Health have extensive experience in the most advanced treatments, including parenteral nutrition, for digestive disorders. We’re with you and your child at every step of the way.
Your child’s care team will discuss the length of time on parenteral nutrition, which varies depending on your child’s health needs. It could be a few weeks or months or permanently.
Your child won't feel any pain from the tube inside their body, but it may feel uncomfortable at first. Your child isn't likely to feel hungry while receiving parenteral nutrition, but if they do, please speak with the care team. We can adjust the contents of their solution and their diet, if they can eat other food at times or receive enteral nutrition in addition to parental nutrition.
Your child can do most of their usual activities, and any limitations usually depend on their health needs and how well they feel. Parenteral nutrition may cause some inconveniences in your family’s life, and the care team will work with you and your family to help make your lives as normal as possible during this time. We will also provide specific information about which activities your child may need to avoid, if any.