When Your Child Needs Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a way for your child to get correct nutrition. This is done using a small, soft tube called a catheter . The catheter is put into a vein. This allows liquid nutrition to be put into your child’s blood vessels.

Why is TPN needed?

TPN is used when your child’s digestive tract can’t digest food. Or when your child can’t eat enough food to meet his or her nutritional needs. The catheter is put into the vein in the hospital. Then you can give TPN to your child at home. A home care nurse can teach you how. You’ll also learn how to clean and care for the catheter site.

Types of TPN lines

There are 2 main types of TPN lines used to give nutrition through the catheter:

Central line. This kind of line is often used for babies and very young children. The catheter is placed into a vein in the neck or chest. This allows nutrients to be delivered close to the large blood vessels of the heart. The catheter has openings (ports) to give nutrition and medicines as needed.

Outline of child showing a central line inserted into a vein.

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line. This type of line is often placed into a vein in your child’s arm. The line is gently threaded through the vein up to the heart.

Outline of child showing a PICC line inserted into a vein.

When to call the healthcare provider 

Call the healthcare provider right away if your child has any of these:

  • Tubing that splits or leaks, or that comes out part way or all the way

  • Fluid leaking from the catheter insertion site

  • Fever over 100.4°F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by the provider

  • Trouble breathing

  • Vomiting

  • Skin or whites of eyes that turn yellow (jaundice)

  • Bulging of skin around catheter site

  • Bleeding around catheter site

  • Skin pulling away from catheter site

  • Pain, redness, swelling, or warmth at catheter site

  • Swelling of the hand, arm, back, or torso

  • Blocked tubing