These instructions are for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients going home on intravenous (IV) nutrition, also known as parenteral nutrition (PN).

Important information before you go home:

• PN solutions are made, delivered, and given differently at home. You will meet with members of the Home PN Program to review these differences and how care is coordinated at home. Nurses from the Home PN Program will meet with you to discuss your child’s specific home care needs related to central line care, PN regimen, and their home supplies. Samples of supplies may be provided.  
• A home infusion company will be set up to provide your child’s infusion therapy and equipment.  
• An infusion nurse will come to your house for additional education, pump teaching, and central line care. They may also draw labs at home when ordered by CHOP’s Home PN Team. 

Follow these instructions for PN at home:

• Store PN and medicines added to the PN in the refrigerator:
  • Make sure you have enough room in your refrigerator. Home PN can take up a lot of refrigerator space.  
  • Store the PN and medicines in a separate compartment or away from food that can drip on supplies and bags.  
  • Some families buy a mini fridge to keep in their child’s room. Please ask your Social Worker if you need assistance with storage. Some home infusion companies may have loaner refrigerators for your use.
• Store non-refrigerated PN supplies together:
  • 
    It is best to keep all the supplies together in a clean cabinet, box, or closet.  This will make it easier when you are preparing the PN.  
  • Some families buy a rolling cart or organizer that fits on the back of a door.  
  • If you need assistance with obtaining these supplies, please ask your Social Worker.      
• Do not expose home PN or central line supplies to extreme temperatures:
  • Extreme temperatures may cause the PN solution and other supplies to change. Hot temperatures can also make your child sweat more and may cause issues with the central line dressing. Contact your Social Worker if you need assistance with obtaining an air conditioner.  
• Check outlets and batteries:
  • PN infusion pumps usually rely on batteries that are changed daily. Your infusion company will provide these batteries.
  • Some pumps may require a 3-pronged plug. You may need more than one electrical outlet to accommodate all your child’s pumps.  
• Check that bathroom supplies are readily available:
  • Children receiving home PN often need to use the bathroom more frequently during the night.  
  • Your child may benefit from having a urinal or bedside commode at home.  
  • Ask your case manager and home PN team if your child needs this supplied.
• Prepare PN on a washable work surface:
  • 
    Identify a surface that can be easily cleaned and used for preparing your child’s PN and equipment. Some families purchase a plastic or metal tray used just for PN.   
  • Do not use the kitchen or the bathroom because these areas contain higher amounts of germs.
  • You will need to purchase an antibacterial cleanser for cleaning your work surface.  
  • If you need assistance with obtaining these supplies, please ask your Social Worker or home infusion company.
• Dispose of needles and syringes safely:
  • If you need to use needles and syringes to prepare PN, you must have a container to dispose of these items safely.  
  • Keep these items and the container away from children and others.  
  • Sharps containers should be provided by the home infusion company.

Call the home infusion company with any questions about your care, supplies, or storage. Staff from the home infusion company are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have any questions about your child’s health, please contact your child’s healthcare provider. This document is intended only to provide general educational information and is not intended as medical advice or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider prior to use, as some of this information may need to be adapted for your child’s specific needs. It is the responsibility of your healthcare provider to advise you on the appropriate use of this information. If you/your child are not already a CHOP patient, this document does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you/your child and CHOP. CHOP is not responsible for any outcomes you/your child might experience from your use of this document. This document is provided "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, express or implied. If this document refers to any drugs or medical devices, it is the responsibility of your healthcare provider to check the FDA status prior to use. If this document includes references to drug dosing, please do not rely on this document. Your healthcare provider should check the package insert for each drug before use. Hyperlinks used within this document may not be translated into other languages.

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