This retrospective study aims to analyze, and compare with other Spanish hospitals, the use of parenteral nutrition, its characteristics and complications, in a general hospital with 610 beds, during 1992. To conduct this study, we have used clinical histories and follow up sheets made up by the Department of Pharmacy for each patient, as well as the results of the sample processing in the microbiology laboratory. Between 1992 and 1993 we have seen an increase in the use of parenteral nutrition, with the number of bags increasing from 2134 to 2575. The departments which have used parenteral nutrition most, were Surgery (57.3%), and ICU (24.8%), with the mean duration being 10.4 days 8SD = +/- 9.3 days). The most frequently used access route in the hospital was the drum, but there are significant differences between the departments. Gastroenterological pathology was, with 71.4% the most frequent indication for its use, and within this, the neoplasias stand out with 26.3% of the total of parenteral nutrition. The complications which affected most patients are: increases of the liver enzymes, hypokalemias, hyponatremias, and hyperglycemias.