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.