Purpose of Review
The aim of this article is to provide a practical review of the different enteral feeding tubes available and their indications, technical considerations, guidelines for their care, and possible complications.
Recent Findings
Enteral feeding is a safe and effective way to deliver nutrition to patients who are unable to meet their needs through normal eating. There are multiple types of enteral tubes available to meet the individual need or preference of each patient. The type of tube and placement depends on the patient’s condition, and the length of time the enteral tube will be needed. There are two categories of enteral feeding tubes: enteric and enterostomy tubes. Enteric tubes are placed either orally or nasally for those patients requiring short term nutritional support. Enterostomy tubes are placed into the stomach or small intestine and are for those patients requiring long term nutritional support.
Summary
Enteral nutrition refers to the delivery of nutrition into the gastrointestinal tract, either into the stomach or distally, through tubes that can be introduced into the nose, mouth, or stoma. Through the collaborative efforts of each patient’s medical team and with the basic knowledge of different enteral feeding tubes available and their indications, technical considerations, guidelines for their care, and possible complications, patient care can be improved.
