Nutrition/Enteral Feedings

Signature Health Services can help with nutrition/enteral feedings.

Nutrition/Enteral Feedings

What is enteral nutrition?

Sometimes, a patient can’t eat any or enough food because of an illness, a diminished appetite due to swallowing difficulties, or surgery that interferes with eating. When this occurs, doctors must supply nutrition differently. One method is enteral nutrition.

Enteral nutrition refers to food intake via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Therefore, enteral nutrition takes the food directly to the stomach or small intestine.

Types of enteral nutrition

By mouth

Patients who have lost the ability to eat by themselves often need the food to be administered directly into their mouths. It is the easiest method because food is combined with medications or nutritional products in a form the patient can swallow.

Through a tube

When nutrition can not be taken by mouth, patients must get it into the gut by a tube. If the patient does not recover quickly, a more permanent tube could be placed through the abdomen and directly into the stomach.

Types of enteral feeding tubes

Orogastric tube (OGT) from the mouth to the stomach
Nasogastric tube (NGT) from the nose to the stomach
Oroenteric tube from the mouth to the intestines
Nasoenteric tube from the nose to the intestines (subtypes include nasojejunal and nasoduodenal tubes)
The Gastrostomy tube is placed through the abdomen directly to the stomach.
The Jejunostomy tube is placed through the abdomen directly into the intestines.

Enteral nutrition at home

When tube feeding occurs outside the hospital, it is referred to as home enteral nutrition (HEN). A HEN care team can teach you how to feed yourself through a tube and support you when encountering problems.

When is enteral nutrition recommended?

Enteral nutrition might be when a patient can’t eat enough calories to meet their nutritional requirements. For example, if a patient physically can’t eat, can’t eat with safety, or if their caloric needs are increased beyond their ability to eat.

Some reasons for enteral nutrition include:

Stroke
Cancer
Critical illness or injury
Inability to eat in infants or young children, or failure to thrive
Neurological disorders
Mobility impairments
GI dysfunction or disease

Possible complications of enteral feeding

Some complications can occur because of enteral nutrition. Some of the most common include:

Aspiration (food going into the lungs)
Infection of the tube or insertion site
Nausea and vomiting a the beginning of the therapies
Skin irritation at the tube insertion site
Diarrhea due to a liquid diet or medications
Tube dislodgement
Tube blockage

Living with a feeding tube

Enteral feeding is usually a short-term solution while a patient recovers from an illness, injury, or surgery. Nevertheless, enteral feeding is a long-term solution in some situations, such as for children with physical disabilities or people with movement disorders. Enteral feeding could look like a challenging adjustment for patients and families. However, doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and home health care providers can help make this adjustment successful.

Why choose Signature Health Services if you are with enteral nutrition?

Patients with a feeding tube can generally move along their houses comfortably; however, some could still have fears and restraints. We alleviate any worry by ensuring that our nurses are properly trained and maintain the nutrition method clean and neat.

At Signature, we have the experience and resources to provide the best support for the patient and the family. Also, our registered nurses and licensed therapists may help with recovery assistance and could support the rehabilitation process.

For more information on how Signature Health Services can help with your healthcare needs, please call 1 (800) 277-8291 (option 1) or email information@signaturehealthservices.net.