Complications associated with TPN fall into 3 categories: mechanical complications related to the catheters incompatibilities TPN and medication incompatibilities calcium and phosphorus incompatibilities occlusions in the catheter metabolic electrolyte imbalance hepatic dysfunction and/or failure cholestasis hyper/hypoglycemia hypertriglyceridemia hyperammonemia prerenal azotemia essential fatty acid deficiency demineralization of bone and rickets Meticulous nursing care will minimize, but not eliminate, the mechanical complications. Pharmacy will help oversee incompatibility issues. And careful laboratory monitoring will help minimize the various metabolic complications.