This book provides a stepwise approach to the use of safe parenteral nutrition (PN) in developing countries and presents an overview of PN topics at an elementary level.
The book is divided into two sections. Section 1, "Basic Principles," includes chapters on consequences of malnutrition, general principles of PN, evaluation of nutritional status and requirements, technical considerations in PN, venous access, administration of PN, metabolic response to PN, monitoring, complications, and the role of the nursing staff. The chapters are typically four- or five-page synopses of generally accepted information written in a simple format.
Unfortunately, however, certain information is inaccurate. For example, the statement "[Intravenous dextrose] has a caloric value of 4 kcal/gm [16.8 kJ/g]" is of concern in a book written for persons with a minimal knowledge of PN, because it could lead to undernutrition; carbohydrates have a caloric value of 16.8 kJ/g, but intravenous dextrose has only 14.3