Total parenteral nutrition has become a well-established intervention for the following indications: to sustain life in patients with short-bowel syndrome; for perioperative use in nutritionally deprived patients; to improve quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases; to assist the healing of enterocutaneous and pancreatic fistulas; for supportive care in patients with acute pancreatitis; as an adjunct to therapy in patients with acute renal or hepatic failure; for hypermetabolic states such as sepsis, trauma, burns and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; in neonatal and pediatric patients; in transplantation recipients, including bone marrow, renal, cardiac and liver transplants; for precoronary artery bypass graft myocardial glycogen loading; in the field of obstetrics; to enhance survival in patients with closed head injuries; to treat life-threatening anorexia nervosa; in patients with cystic fibrosis and for nutritional support in home use.