Scientific and technological advances for the nurse in the artificial parenteral and enteral nutrition

Abstract

The history of the discovery and use of parentral and enteral artificial nutrition is reviewed. Total parenteral nutrition is defined as the technique developed to provide sufficient quantity and quality of nutrients to cover the organism's requirements, as well stimulating the metabolism so as to achieve a positive nitrogen balance and an adequate nutritional state. These techniques can be used on a temporary or permanent basis, by means of permanent, ambulatory, artificial nutrition. This requires training the patients family on how to manage and care for die catheter, care for the dripping throughout the transfusion and detection of metabolic alterations. The aid of computers in artificial nutrition is mentioned.