Artificial nutrition: indication, types, complications

1. Big picture

Artificial nutrition means giving nutrients by a medical route when normal oral intake is absent, unsafe, or insufficient. In the exam, the most important rule is:

If the gut works → use the gut.
If the gut does not work → use parenteral nutrition.

So the examiner wants you to know:

1. When artificial nutrition is indicated
2. Enteral vs parenteral nutrition
3. Which access route to choose
4. How to monitor
5. Complications, especially aspiration, catheter sepsis, hyperglycemia, electrolyte disorders, and refeeding syndrome

Artificial nutrition is not just “giving calories.” It is a treatment that affects fluid balance, electrolytes, glucose control, infection risk, gut integrity, wound healing, and survival.

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