Conditions Requiring TPN
          • Cancer
          • AIDS
          • Crohn’s disease
          • Surgical removal of intestines
          • Severe diarrhea
          • Hyperemesis gravidarum (uncontrollable 
                vomiting during pregnancy)
                 Sterile Products and Aseptic Techniques for the Pharmacy Technician, Second Edition             Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
                 Mike Johnston                                                                                                            All rights reserved.
                   Conditions Requiring TPN 
                                                              (cont’d)
          • Premature neonate
          • Coma
                 Sterile Products and Aseptic Techniques for the Pharmacy Technician, Second Edition             Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
                 Mike Johnston                                                                                                            All rights reserved.
                                                     Ingredients
          • TPNs are extremely complex sterile 
                compounds
          • May have up to 15 to 20 additives
          • Greater incidence of error or 
                incompatibility
          • TPN bag volume: 500 ml to 4 L
          • Average patient receives 3 to 4 L/day
                 Sterile Products and Aseptic Techniques for the Pharmacy Technician, Second Edition             Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
                 Mike Johnston                                                                                                            All rights reserved.
                                  Ingredients (cont’d)
          • TPNs prone to growth of microorganisms
          • Maintaining aseptic technique is essential
                 Sterile Products and Aseptic Techniques for the Pharmacy Technician, Second Edition             Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
                 Mike Johnston                                                                                                            All rights reserved.
                                  Ingredients (cont’d)
          Base solution
          • Dextrose: carbohydrates/sugar; provides 
                calories
          • Amino acids: protein; build/maintain body 
                tissue
          • Lipids: fat; energy storage
          • Sterile water: used to adjust TPN volume
                 Sterile Products and Aseptic Techniques for the Pharmacy Technician, Second Edition             Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
                 Mike Johnston                                                                                                            All rights reserved.