Tube or Enteral Feeding

Ideally the patient must be fed orally, but in cases where the patient is unable to take solid foods, a part or all of intake is usually given by the tube. These are the cases where  the gastrointestinal tract is functioning  arid  can be  used.  Here,  an  alternate form of  enteral feeding by  tube provides nutritional support. Enteral nutrition can be provided by  supplying  intact,  semi or completely hydrolyzed  formulas  through nasogastrici duodenal/ jejunal routes or by the help of  gastrostomies/  jejunostomies.