For patients on parenteral nutrition, what should be monitored to prevent potential complications?

For patients on parenteral nutrition, what should be monitored to prevent potential complications?

• A. Exercise levels
• B. Nutritional intake
• C. Cognitive function
• D. Blood glucose and electrolytes

Answer: (D)

Monitoring blood glucose and electrolytes is crucial for patients on parenteral nutrition because these patients are at risk for significant metabolic imbalances. Parenteral nutrition provides nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels due to the infusion of carbohydrates. This can cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, which necessitates diligent monitoring to mitigate complications such as infections, organ dysfunction, and metabolic derangements. Electrolyte imbalances are also common with parenteral nutrition, particularly in patients who may not be receiving adequate amounts of specific electrolytes, such as potassium or magnesium. These imbalances can lead to serious complications like cardiac arrhythmias or neuromuscular issues. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and electrolytes is essential to ensure that patients remain within safe physiological parameters, allowing healthcare providers to adjust the nutrition formulation as needed based on laboratory results. In contrast, the other choices do not directly address the most critical aspects of patient safety and monitoring associated with parenteral nutrition. While exercise levels, nutritional intake, and cognitive function are important components of patient care, they do not have the same immediate impact on the acute management and prevention of complications related to parenteral

Monitoring blood glucose and electrolytes is crucial for patients on parenteral nutrition because these patients are at risk for significant metabolic imbalances. Parenteral nutrition provides nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels due to the infusion of carbohydrates. This can cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, which necessitates diligent monitoring to mitigate complications such as infections, organ dysfunction, and metabolic derangements.

Electrolyte imbalances are also common with parenteral nutrition, particularly in patients who may not be receiving adequate amounts of specific electrolytes, such as potassium or magnesium. These imbalances can lead to serious complications like cardiac arrhythmias or neuromuscular issues. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and electrolytes is essential to ensure that patients remain within safe physiological parameters, allowing healthcare providers to adjust the nutrition formulation as needed based on laboratory results.

In contrast, the other choices do not directly address the most critical aspects of patient safety and monitoring associated with parenteral nutrition. While exercise levels, nutritional intake, and cognitive function are important components of patient care, they do not have the same immediate impact on the acute management and prevention of complications related to parenteral