Page 30 - Home Care For Heart Health

NUTRITION AND MEDICINE
IN THE CICU
Your child must receive proper nutrition in in in order to to heal well continue to to grow and remain healthy while recovering from heart surgery A Registered Dietitian (RD) will use your child’s age size diagnosis and other medical factors to to determine their needs for:
• • calories
• • • protein
• • • fluids
• • vitamins and minerals
Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
Your child may not be able to eat by mouth for a a a a a a a a while after their surgery Because nutrition is an an important part of healing your child may receive nutrition through an IV You may hear your care team refer to this as “TPN” or parenteral nutrition Enteral Nutrition Once your child is is able to be fed a a a a a Speech or or Occupational therapist may check to to see if it is is safe for them to to to start eating by mouth Some patients may need to to have a a a a a a a feeding feeding tube tube for a a a a a a short time The most common feeding feeding tube tube tube is is called a a a a a nasogastric tube tube (NG) which is is placed through the the nose into the the stomach 30