Tube Feeding Nutrition

Tube feeding is a method of administering nutrients to people who may have difficulty eating and drinking through the mouth. First introduced in 1980, the National Cancer Society now estimates that there are more than 200,000 patients benefiting from this kind of therapy. Its purpose is to supply patients with adequate nutrition and help them maintain proper weight.

Facts

• The type of feeding tube used in tube feeding depends on how long the therapy will last. For short-term use, the tube is inserted through the nose. If the patient is expected to undergo tube feeding for prolonged periods of time, the tube is placed in the stomach through an opening created in the abdominal wall. Tube feeding can be recommended when a patient is undergoing treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, which may make it difficult to eat.

Importance

• Tube feeding is a way to provide a patient with needed nutrients even when he has difficulty eating and drinking. Food, which is used as fuel by the body, is especially important for those who need to be rehabilitated. Tube feeding makes use of formulas that contain substances such as calories, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Attachment

• The insertion of the tube is a relatively simple process. For tubes that are attached at the abdomen, an endoscope is used to assist it toward the stomach. The tubes are prevented from being dislodged either through a wire within the tube or a small balloon at the end of the stomach. A patient undergoing tube feeding initially may feel some discomfort because gas and air can enter the tube. Also, time may be needed to adjust to the liquid formula itself. However, the discomfort eventually should lessen as the person becomes more used to the system.

Risks

• The use of tube feeding does carry some risks. The most common risk is aspiration, or the food being inhaled into the lungs. To minimize this, the patient should be kept upright during feeding. The feeding tube also may be pulled out accidentally and cause a leakage around the opening in the abdomen, called the stoma. Frequent tension on the tube can cause pressure necrosis, or death of the tissues in the interior abdominal wall. More severe complications such as gastric hemorrhages rarely occur.

Care and Maintenance

• One of the ways to ensure that tube feeding goes smoothly and provides proper nutrition is to use feeding formulas thin enough that they will not clog the tube. The tube should be flushed with water before and after feedings. Also, the food should be administered slowly. In fact, feeding sessions may last for as long as an hour. Oral care should not be neglected even when feeding is done through a tube. The patient's mouth should be cleaned and the teeth brushed.