Before discontinuing a parenteral feeding, what support should be provided to prevent complications?

Before discontinuing parenteral feeding, it is crucial to provide support to prevent hypoglycemia. When a patient is receiving parenteral nutrition, the body becomes accustomed to receiving a continuous supply of glucose and nutrients. Abruptly stopping parenteral feeding can lead to a rapid decrease in glucose levels, which may result in hypoglycemia, especially if the body has not been adequately transitioned to oral intake or if the liver is unable to respond appropriately to sudden changes in nutrient availability.

To mitigate this risk, a gradual tapering of parenteral feeding is often recommended, allowing the body to adjust and facilitating the establishment of oral or enteral feeding before discontinuing parenteral nutrition completely. Monitoring blood glucose levels during this transition is also crucial to ensure that the patient remains stable, avoiding symptoms such as weakness, confusion, or even loss of consciousness associated with low blood sugar levels.

In contrast, while the other options, such as the development of fatty liver or hepatic encephalopathy, may have relevance in the context of parenteral nutrition and its management, they are less immediate concerns tied to the discontinuation of parenteral feeding. Ketoacidosis primarily applies to specific metabolic conditions rather than the direct consequences of stopping feeding in patients