Hypertonic Solutions

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Peripheral parenteral nutrition feedings usually supplement enteral feedings. Large amounts of nutrients cannot be supplied via a peripheral vein, because these relatively small veins cannot tolerate the rush of fluid into the vein that occurs when a hypertonic solution is introduced into the circulatory system.

Body fluids have an osmolarity of about 300 mOsm. The introduction of a hypertonic solution into a body compartment will cause an osmotic gradient, resulting in a fluid shift.