Enteral (Tube) Feeding: Another Healthful Way to Eat

People whose digestive system "works" but who can't get enough, or any, nourishment by mouth must use another healthful way to eat. Enteral feeding can make a vital difference by helping them:

 

  • Stay nutritionally healthy
  • Maintain a higher level of physical activity if desired.

What Is Enteral Feeding?

With enteral feeding, liquid nourishment (and medication, when needed) is delivered by a tube surgically inserted into the stomach, intestine, or, for some patients, both. For feeding, the tube is attached to an extension, which connects to the feeding bottle, bag or pump containing the nutrient formula prescribed for the patient.

The type of enteral feeding to use depends on factors including the patient's medical condition, length of time feeding will be needed, and, when appropriate, lifestyle.

When Is Enteral Feeding Necessary?

Enteral feeding is required when a patient has a functioning gastrointestinal (GI) tract but cannot get enough nutrients by mouth and becomes at risk for malnutrition.

A number of diseases and medical conditions, and sometimes their treatment, can lead to inadequate nutrition and the need for enteral feeding. Among them are GI disease, cancer and its treatment, neurological disease, and failure to thrive.

Consult these additional resources to learn more about nutrition-impairing conditions and diseases:

ASGE: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

ASPEN: American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

The Oley Foundation

WebMD.com

How Can Tube Placement Affect Your Lifestyle?

Conventional feeding tubes can be bulky and difficult to conceal under clothing. This may not be a problem for patients using short-term feeding or who are not physically active.

But what about those who enjoy being physically active and want to continue? For them, a feeding tube that is difficult to dislodge-allowing freer movement and is easily concealed under clothing, such as the MIC-KEY* Low-Profile Gastrostomy Feeding Tube, can be an ideal choice. MIC-KEY* tubes goes hand-in-hand with an active lifestyle.