When the person is being fed through an intravenous central catheter, they are given nutrition.

Total parenteral nutrition

- If they are ONLY being fed this way it would be referred to as Total parental nutrition. = TPN, is used when this is the only source of nutrition the patient is receiving. They're entirely dependent on TPN for all of their nutrition. It is primarily used to treat patients with digestive system disorders or patients who are recovering from a serious accident or surgery.

Parenteral nutrition is used to treat patients who cannot eat or have limited digestive powers by providing a liquid mixture of nutrients directly to the bloodstream. Parenteral nutrition is delivered intravenously to a vein and includes protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and any other nutrients required by the body.

Parenteral nutrition is different than enteral nutrition, which is the use of a feeding tube to provide nutrients directly to the stomach for digestion. Parenteral nutrition may be used if a feeding tube didn't work or if the patient suffers from conditions like Crohn's disease, cancer, short bowel syndrome, or ischemic bowel disease to list a few.