The goal of TPN is to provide adequate nutrition and to individualize for: resting energy requirements adequate growth and development specific disease processes (trauma, sepsis, burns, etc.) prevent/treat both macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies/excesses avoid complications improve patient outcomes The TPN formulation will depend on several factors - the patient's clinical status, nutritional status, age and size and developmental state (pre- or post-pubertal). Before ordering TPN, you must know the patient's weight, fluid status and the baseline lab values. In general, it is more difficult to order TPN for a child than an adult or even a neonate because of the large variations in weights among children. This in turn leads to significant differences in fluid and caloric requirements and substrate goals (CHO, lipid, protein).