People who are ill may be unable to feed themselves. Although they cannot swallow or even chew the food like most other people, the body still requires the nutrients that come from eating. In these cases, a gastric tube feeding might be required. These tubes are medical devices employed to provide patients with nutrition when they are unable to receive it by mouth, cannot safely swallow or need some kind of supplementation for their oral diet.
The act of being fed by this tube is known as gavage, tube feeding or enteral feeding. Placement of these devices may be temporary as treatment for acute conditions. They might also be lifelong, which is often the case for those with chronic medical disabilities.
Typically these are used in the medical field. They are often made from silicone or polyurethane material. These devices are classified based on the intended use and the insertion site. The main types that are used today: nasogastric, gastrostomy or gastric, jejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy, and nasojejunal.
There is a handful of conditions that might call for use of these tubes. The most common conditions that call for these tubes include malnutrition, neuromuscular or neurologic disorders, prematurity, post-surgical or anatomical malformations of the esophagus and mouth, digestive disorders, cancer, inability to swallow, and Sanfillippo syndrome. Doctors will use their expertise and discretion when deciding which patients may need this.
A variety of tube types are available to those in need. The doctor of the patient will analyze his or her condition, including their needs, to determine what device is best for them. The effectiveness of this method will vary depending on many different factors, such as the tube that is employed and the condition being treated.
These kids are used with great success in children with various medical conditions. Some of the kids utilize these on a temporary basis until they can eat without assistance, others may need these on a long-term scale. In some instances, the tubes are employed for kids that have to supplement their oral eating, but other kids may rely entirely on these devices for their nutritional needs.
Patients with advanced dementia may require these as they are unable to feed themselves. It is often recommended that such individuals opt to have another person feed them rather than using these tubes. In these patients, tubes do not lower the life expectancy or protect a patient from becoming ill with aspiration pneumonia. The may, however, increase one's risk of pressure ulcers, contribute to patient distress and require physical or pharmacological restraints.
People with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, may be malnourished and therefore require a tube. Sometimes the use of these devices is voluntary and other times it is used when patients are resisting feeding. These individuals may be likely to tamper with their feeds, which could reduce the effectiveness of such devices. Nasogastric tubes are typically employed in intensive care units to provide critically ill patients with nutrition as their medical conditions are addressed. Ultimately, this type of feeding is done in cases where a person is unable to receive the nutrients they need through the traditional feeding. As is true of any medical practice, there are potential risks and side effects to be aware of.
The act of being fed by this tube is known as gavage, tube feeding or enteral feeding. Placement of these devices may be temporary as treatment for acute conditions. They might also be lifelong, which is often the case for those with chronic medical disabilities.
Typically these are used in the medical field. They are often made from silicone or polyurethane material. These devices are classified based on the intended use and the insertion site. The main types that are used today: nasogastric, gastrostomy or gastric, jejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy, and nasojejunal.
There is a handful of conditions that might call for use of these tubes. The most common conditions that call for these tubes include malnutrition, neuromuscular or neurologic disorders, prematurity, post-surgical or anatomical malformations of the esophagus and mouth, digestive disorders, cancer, inability to swallow, and Sanfillippo syndrome. Doctors will use their expertise and discretion when deciding which patients may need this.
A variety of tube types are available to those in need. The doctor of the patient will analyze his or her condition, including their needs, to determine what device is best for them. The effectiveness of this method will vary depending on many different factors, such as the tube that is employed and the condition being treated.
These kids are used with great success in children with various medical conditions. Some of the kids utilize these on a temporary basis until they can eat without assistance, others may need these on a long-term scale. In some instances, the tubes are employed for kids that have to supplement their oral eating, but other kids may rely entirely on these devices for their nutritional needs.
Patients with advanced dementia may require these as they are unable to feed themselves. It is often recommended that such individuals opt to have another person feed them rather than using these tubes. In these patients, tubes do not lower the life expectancy or protect a patient from becoming ill with aspiration pneumonia. The may, however, increase one's risk of pressure ulcers, contribute to patient distress and require physical or pharmacological restraints.
People with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, may be malnourished and therefore require a tube. Sometimes the use of these devices is voluntary and other times it is used when patients are resisting feeding. These individuals may be likely to tamper with their feeds, which could reduce the effectiveness of such devices. Nasogastric tubes are typically employed in intensive care units to provide critically ill patients with nutrition as their medical conditions are addressed. Ultimately, this type of feeding is done in cases where a person is unable to receive the nutrients they need through the traditional feeding. As is true of any medical practice, there are potential risks and side effects to be aware of.
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