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parenteral nutrition
a technique for meeting a patient's nutritional needs by means of intravenous feedings; sometimes called hyperalimentation, even though it does not provide excessive amounts of nutrients. Nutrition by intravenous feeding may be either total parenteral nutrition or only supplemental. Total parenteral nutrition provides all of the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals needed for the building of tissue, expenditure of energy, and other physiologic activities.

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