What is ENTERAL FEEDING?

enteral feeding concerns liquid nutrition inserted directly into the stomach via the tube. This procedure is usually performed in patients who cannot eat themselves because of various diseases or other complications. The liquid can be made either by glucose, water and other nutrients; Infants may have a formula or breast milk.

In order for enteral feeding to be effective, the patient must have a functional digestive tract, but will not normally chew, swallow or otherwise ingest food normally. The tube is often placed directly into the stomach via the abdomen and can be closed or connected if it is not used. This allows patients who are obliged to use the tube for a long time to stay at home and manage their nutrition themselves. Other times the tube is inserted into the neck.

those who use enteral feeding techniques. This is possible for those who can easily chew and spend food but may have problems with aspiration or malnutrition when the only source of nutrition is the only source.

There are many benefits for those who use enteral feeding if necessary. These include increased weight gain in malnourished patients, easier breathing or less risk of aspiration for patients with lung or respiratory restrictions and better quality of life for patients trying to eat solid food. While solid foods should be offered, if possible, the patient can live and be nourished only by enteral methods.

disadvantages of enteral feed include diarrhea, skin disintegration, anatomical disturbance, hyperglycemia and hyperphosphatemia. These risks can generally be avoided or dealt with by proper medical care and immediate attention when symptoms occur. Some patients may also experience relaxed or displaced tubes, althegh can generally be rectified quite easily.

patients who may be candidates for enteral feeding must meet certain criteria. In addition to the apparentThe swallowing mechanisms include symptoms that can guarantee pipe feeding, include serious weight loss, lack of weight gain in young children in the period of three months, there are not enough vitamins absorbed into the body from food, low weight for height and inability to prosper for young children. In most cases, there is a basic health condition for these symptoms that must be discovered and remedied before natural food absorption can begin.