Nutritional Support after hospitalization
When individuals are unable to meet their nutritional needs through regular eating, specialized feeding methods—Enteral or Parenteral nutrition—offer safe, medically supervised alternatives to ensure adequate nourishment and recovery."
What Is Enteral Feeding?
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Definition: Delivery of nutrition directly into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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Indications: For patients who can’t eat by mouth but have a functioning GI system (e.g. stroke, cancer, surgery recovery).
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Methods: Via nasogastric (NG) tube, PEG tube, etc.
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Benefits:
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Supports gut function
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Reduces risk of infections compared to parenteral
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Cost-effective
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Enteral feeding is often the first-line choice when the digestive system is functional, providing a safe and effective way to nourish the body through feeding tubes directly into the stomach or small intestine.
What Is Parenteral Feeding?
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Definition: Nutrition delivered intravenously, bypassing the digestive tract.
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Indications: When the GI tract is non-functional or unsafe to use (e.g. bowel obstruction, severe IBD, post-surgery).
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Types:
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Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
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Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)
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Components: Fluids, electrolytes, glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins
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Considerations: Requires careful monitoring, higher risk of infection, more costly
Parenteral nutrition is a vital life-sustaining option when the digestive system cannot be used, delivering essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream.
Safety and Monitoring
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Administered under medical supervision
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Regular monitoring of labs, electrolytes, and metabolic status
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Risk management (e.g. infection control, tube care, refeeding syndrome)
Both enteral and parenteral feeding require expert planning, sterile handling, and close monitoring to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Who Can Benefit?
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Hospitalized patients
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Individuals with chronic illness
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Cancer patients undergoing treatment
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Post-surgical recovery
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Long-term care patients