New to enteral feeding?

Proper nutrition is essential to maintaining our bodies’ health, growth and ability to heal. There are various medical conditions that could lead to enteral nutrition support, which is the delivery of nutrients to the body through the gastrointestinal tract.

Everyone needs food to live. Sometimes a person cannot eat any food or cannot eat enough food because of an illness, difficulties in swallowing, or some type of surgery that interferes with eating. In these situations, nutrition must be supplied in a different way. If a person cannot eat by mouth, but their stomach and/or intestines are still working, one potential way to deliver nutrients is called “enteral nutrition” or “tube feeding”.

A feeding tube is a medical device used for individuals who are unable to obtain their proper caloric intake by traditional/oral means. There are many different types of feeding tubes available based upon the patient’s needs. Your healthcare professional will assist you in determining the best type of alternative feeding for your situation.  For instance, a gastrostomy tube, also known as a G-Tube, may be inserted through the abdominal wall to provide direct access to the stomach for feeding. A G-Tube is a convenient and effective means for delivering nutritional formulas (food) to the body.