Enterals

What Is Enteral Feeding And How Does It Work

When patients require nutrition through continuous feeding, intermittent feeding or feeding and flushing, it delivers in one compact, easy-to-use device.

What is Enteral Feeding
The term is broadly defined as feeding of a liquid through the gastrointestinal tract. The main goal of intravenous feeding is to sustain patient comfort and extend the period of time between feedings. It can be beneficial for severe or chronic health issues where food can't be eaten and intake is restricted. Enteral feeding is used to provide nutritional support to patients in a hospital or acute care setting. When the patient is fed intravenously it can be done by several ways. One way is through a tube inserted through a vein or artery into the vein and extending into the bloodstream. An alternative way is through a port in a patient's body.

Enteral Feeding Benefits
Nutrient absorption is promoted by the slow passage of solution through the gastrointestinal tract. Enteral feedings facilitate a more complete absorption of nutrients and fluids in patients with intestinal malabsorption. 

Enteral Feeding Devices
Examples of Enteral Feeding Devices include feeding tubes and nasogastric tubes. Nasogastric Tubes The purpose of nasogastric tubes is to send liquid foods, supplements or liquid medications (e.g., antibiotics or heparin) directly into the stomach. Nasogastric Tubes are also used to feed patients who have trouble with taking and following their medications or who have difficulty swallowing and so eating. The entry point of nasogastric tubes are at the junction of the stomach and the esophagus. The size and shape of the tube, and the amount of product that is transmitted in this way, depends on the type of tube. Enteral Feeding Enteral feeding is the delivery of nutritional substances that are administered intravenously or via a peripheral or central line.