What is enteral nutrition?

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”.
Enteral nutrition, or tube feeding, is a way to provide food through a tube placed in the nose, the stomach, or the small intestine. A tube that goes through the skin and into the stomach is called a gastrostomy tube, or G-Tube.
For some individuals, enteral nutrition may be their only source of food; for others, enteral nutrition may be added to their daily food routine as a supplement.
If you or someone you care for cannot eat by mouth, your healthcare provider will help you choose the best option to get nutrition in a different way.