№ 18Metabolic Diseases17 min read
Artificial nutrition: indication, types, complications
1. Big picture
Artificial nutrition means giving nutrients by a medical route when normal oral intake is absent, unsafe, or insufficient. In the exam, the most important rule is:
If the gut works → use the gut.
If the gut does not work → use parenteral nutrition.
So the examiner wants you to know:
- When artificial nutrition is indicated
- Enteral vs parenteral nutrition
- Which access route to choose
- How to monitor
- Complications, especially aspiration, catheter sepsis, hyperglycemia, electrolyte disorders, and refeeding syndrome
Artificial nutrition is not just “giving calories.” It is a treatment that affects fluid balance, electrolytes,
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