Question

Which client is the most likely candidate for total parenteral nutrition (TPN)?

a. A client diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in diabetic ketoacidosis.
b. An obese client who is on a medically supervised starvation diet.
c. An older client who is having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
d. A client experiencing an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease.

Answer 1

The client most likely to require TPN is one experiencing an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease, due to the inability to absorb nutrients because of severe GI tract inflammation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client most likely to require total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is d. A client experiencing an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease. TPN is a method of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is used when a person cannot receive nutrition by mouth or through tube feeding. This is often necessary for patients with severe issues involving the GI tract. For example, with Crohn's disease, severe inflammation can hinder the ability to absorb nutrients, making TPN essential to ensure proper nourishment.

In contrast, a client in diabetic ketoacidosis (a Type 1 diabetic) would require insulin and fluid management, not TPN. An obese client on a starvation diet may require nutritional support but not necessarily TPN unless there were complications preventing oral or tube feeding. Lastly, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive surgery, and the patient would likely resume oral intake shortly after the procedure and not require TPN.

TPN is critical in situations where malnutrition is a concern due to the inability to eat or absorb nutrients. Malnutrition occurs when the body is not receiving proper nutrition, which may result from a lack of nutrients or an inability to utilize them, as seen in uncontrolled diabetes where insulin nonfunctionality leads to cellular starvation.