Surgical Nutrition – Enteral Feeding: How does it function and When to Use

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Surgical Nutrition Enteral Feeding How does it
function and When to Use

• By Dr Valeria Simone MD
• (Southlake General Surgery, Texas, USA)

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Overview

• Reviewed by Dr. Valeria Simone MD (Southlake
  General Surgery, Texas)
• Enteral feeding means taking nutrition through
  the mouth or with the help of a tube that goes
  straight to the stomach or small intestine. In
  reference to the medical setting, the term
  enteral feeding is frequently used as tube
  feeding.
• Intake by means of the gastrointestinal (GI)
  tract refers to enteral feeding. The GI tract is
  made up of the mouth, throat, stomach, and
  intestines.
• An individual on enteral feeds for the most part
  has a condition or injury that prevents eating a
  routine meal by mouth however, their GI tract is
  still ready to work.
• When an individual is fed through a tube, it
  permits him to get nutrition and keep his GI
  tract working. Enteral feeding may help to match
  their caloric intake or might be utilized as a
  supplement.

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When do we use enteral feeding?

• Tube feedings may additionally emerge as vital
  when you cant eat enough calories to meet your
  dietary needs. This may additionally happen if
  you physically cant eat, cant consume safely,
  or if your caloric necessities are expanded
  beyond your capacity to eat.
• If an individual is experiencing difficulties
  with a regular diet, this can pose a risk for
  malnourishment, weight loss, and very serious
  health problems. This may additionally appear for
  a range of reasons. Some of the more frequent
  underlying motives for enteral feeding include

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• a stroke, which can also impair the capacity to
  swallow
• cancer, which may cause weakness, nausea, and
  vomiting that make it challenging to eat
• critical illness or injury, which reduces
  strength or capability to eat
• failure to thrive or inability to eat in children
  or infants
• serious sickness puts the body in a state of
  stress, making it hard to consume enough
  nutrients
• neurological or movement disorders that amplify
  caloric necessities while making it even harder
  to eat
• GI dysfunction or illness, even though this may
  require intravenous (IV) nutrition as a substitute

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How many sorts of enteral feeding are there?

• According to Dr. Simone MD, Southlake General
  Surgery, Texas, there are six foremost sorts of
  feeding tubes. These tubes may additionally have
  in addition subtypes depending on precisely where
  they end in the stomach or intestines.
• A physician will select the tube placement based
  on your specific needs, including the required
  tube size, the duration of enteral feeds, and
  your digestive abilities
• A medical expert will also select an enteral
  method primarily based on tube placement,
  digestive capabilities, and nutritional needs.

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• The primary sorts of enteral feeding tubes
  include
• The Nasoenteric tube (NGT) begins in the nostril
  and finishes in the intestines (subtypes consist
  of the nasojejunal and nasoduodenal tubes).
• Oroenteric tube (OGT) begins in the mouth and
  finishes in the intestines.
• Gastrostomy tube is positioned through the skin
  of the abdomen directly to the stomach (subtypes
  consist of PEG, PRG, and button tubes).
• Jejunostomy tube is positioned through the skin
  of the abdomen directly into the intestines
  (subtypes consist of PEJ and PRJ tubes).
• Make an appointment online Southlake General
  Surgery Texas USA

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What is the procedure for placing the tube?

• NGT or OGT
• Placement of a nasogastric tube or orogastric
  tube, while unbearable, is simple and easy. It
  does not require anesthesia.
• Generally, a nurse will measure the size of the
  tube, lubricate the tip, place the tube in your
  nostril or mouth, and slide the tube until it is
  in the stomach. The tube is generally secured to
  your skin with smooth tape.
• The nurse or physician will then pull some
  gastric fluid out of the tube with the help of a
  syringe. Theyll take a look at the pH (acidity)
  of the fluid to verify that the tube is in the
  stomach.
• At times, we may need a chest X-ray to verify the
  tubes placement. Once we confirm its position,
  we can start using the tube immediately. This
  ensures a smooth and reliable process to meet
  your nutritional needs.

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• Nasoenteric or Oroenteric
• Tubes that end in the intestines frequently
  require endoscopic placement. This means the use
  of a thin tube referred to as an endoscope, which
  has a tiny digital camera on the rear, in order
  to place the feeding tube in the right place.
• After the tube placement, the doctor removes the
  endoscope, and we can confirm the tubes position
  by examining the gastric contents and performing
  an X-ray. This process ensures everything is in
  the right place while keeping you informed and
  comfortable.
• Its a frequent practice to wait at least four to
  12 hours prior to using the new feeding tube.
  Some individuals will be conscious through this
  procedure, while other individuals might require
  conscious sedation.
• Theres no recuperation from the tube placement
  however, it might take an hour or two for the
  sedative medicinal drugs to wear off.

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• Gastrostomy or Jejunostomy
• The placement of gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes
  is additionally a system that may need conscious
  sedation or sometimes general anesthesia.
• To visualize the path for the tube, a medical
  professional uses an endoscope and then creates a
  small incision in the abdomen to thread the tube
  into the belly or intestines. Subsequently, they
  secure the tube to the skin.
• Many endoscopists decide to stand by for at least
  12 hours prior to using the new feeding tube.
  Recuperation may take up to seven days. A few
  people experience uneasiness at the tube
  insertion site however, the cut is so small that
  it commonly recuperates well overall. Your
  healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics to
  prevent infection

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• Enteral and parenteral feeding
• Sometimes, enteral feeding may not be an
  alternative. If youre at risk for malnutrition
  and dont have an efficient GI framework, you may
  require a choice called parenteral feeding.
• Parenteral feeding involves delivering nutrition
  through an individuals veins, typically through
  the insertion of venous access equipment such as
  a port or a peripherally inserted central
  catheter (PICC or PIC line) to administer liquid
  nutrition.
• If this is going to be your supplementary
  nutrition, its known as peripheral parenteral
  nutrition (PPN). When youre taking the entirety
  of your nutritional necessities through an IV,
  its regularly known as Total Parenteral
  Nutrition (TPN).
• Parenteral feeding could be a daily life-saving
  alternative much of the time. But its desirable
  to use enteral nutrition, assuming there is any
  chance of this happening. Enteral nutrition most
  intently emulates regular eating and can assist
  with immune system function.
• Make an appointment online Southlake General
  Surgery Texas USA

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What are the likely complications of Enteral
Feeding?

• There are a few complications that can happen
  because of enteral feeding. A few of the most
  frequent include
• aspiration, which is a meal going into the lungs
• refeeding syndrome, risky electrolyte imbalances
  that may show up in individuals who are very
  malnourished and begin taking enteral feeds
• tube infection or insertion location
• vomiting and nausea may happen due to feeds that
  are too big or fast, or from delayed emptying of
  the stomach
• irritation of the skin at the tube insertion area
• diarrhea because of a liquid diet or due to
  medications
• dislodgement of the tube
• blockage of the tube can occur if it is not
  flushed properly
• There are generally no long-term problems with
  enteral feeding.
• Once you resume a regular diet, you may
  experience slight discomfort in digesting since
  your body adjusts to regular meals.

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Why shouldnt I choose to have enteral feeding?

• The primary reason an individual wouldnt have
  the option to have enteral feeds is if their
  stomach or intestines arent working
  appropriately.
• Lets explore more Surgical Nutrition - Enteral
  Feeding How does it function and When to Use -
  Southlake General Surgery

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Appointment

• For more information, guidelines, and
  consultation on Surgical Nutrition at Southlake
  General Surgery or Percutaneous Endoscopic
  Gastrostomy (PEG) tube, please contact our
  healthcare expert at 1(817)748-0200. You can
  also make an online appointment with us.
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• Source Surgical Nutrition - Enteral Feeding How
  does it function and When to Use - Southlake
  General Surgery

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76092
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