ENTERAL FEEDING

Enteral Feeding

Enteral Feeding

Introduction

Enteral feeding is the process of delivering nutrients through a tube. This is usually given to patients who are unable to take food or drinks through their mouth. In some cases, patients may only need enteral feeding for a very short period of time and in other cases, patients take the tube to their home and receive nutrition through the enteral feeding.

The process of Enteral feeding can be challenging in the hospitalized patients. Doctors need to assess the risk factors in the patients and then select the best enteral access route and the method of feeding to each individual patient. Doctors, nurses and health care professionals are given proper adequate training so that they can provide safe and successful nutritional support to the patients (Solomon & Kirby, 1990, pp. 65)

Discussion

Dietitians have a proper and educated team to assist patients that are suffering from Enteral feeding, but there are many situations when they face obstacles. The dietitian should play an active role in participating and treating both parental and enteral feeding. The role and responsibility of dietitian has been widely expanded over the years. In the initials years, the dietitian used to only focus on the nutritional status, selection of the most appropriate enteral feeding and the fluctuating transition of oral intake. Dietitians, today, during their practice, also measure the body composition; perform the metabolic response and also parental and oral nutrition (Llyod & Tuck, 2004, pp. 119)

Dietetic care of Enteral feeding

When dealing and treating patients which are suffering from Enteral feeding, it is essential for every dietitian to assess their nutrition status. The doctors and nurses should formulate a proper assessment which is based on the biochemistry and the diet history of the patient. The dietitian must develop a plan which will determine the patient nutritional requirements and will also provide a baseline measure for evaluating the effectiveness of intervention (Olson, 2002, pp. 318)

Identifying the patient nutritional needs

The first step is the nutritional screening process. The dietitian must assess the nutrition requirements which will include the changes in the dietary intake of the patient. Doctors must also take into account and measure the weight of the patient and loss of fats, muscle wasting and other changes resulting from the treatment. Doctors must also measure the biochemical data such as the liver functions and urea (Pareesh, 2011, pp 31)

Routes of Enteral feeding

Enteral feeding tubes can enter the body through various ways. They can be entered through nose, through neck and through the stomach. Doctors while determining the routes must take into account several factors. These factors include intended duration of nutrition support, the patient condition and health history. Along with that, nurses must also consider the limitation to access (Solomon & Kirby, 1990, pp. 61)

Types of Enteral feeding tube

The nurses and doctors should also identify which tube must be used for the purpose of enteral feeding. There are various tubes present and all serve for different purposes. Nurses can use enteral feeding pumps, which involves the p-lacing of tubes ...