The feeding of a person by a nasogastric tube or by the infusion of liquid food directly into the intestine.
Feeding by way of a tube inserted through the nose to the stomach.
In severely ill patients, the metabolic responses to tissue damage may be sufficient to cause a reduction of muscle mass and of plasma proteins. This state of catabolism may also impair the immune response to infection and delay the healing of wounds. It is probable that as many as one-half of patients who have had a major operation a week previously show evidence of protein malnutrition. This can be detected clinically by a loss of weight and a reduction in the skinfold thickness and arm circumference. Biochemically the serum albumin concentration falls, as does the lymphocyte count. The protein reserves of the body fall even more dramatically when there are sepsis, burns, acute pancreatitis or renal failure.
Enteral feeding is a feeding method that entails the direct delivery of nutrients into the intestines using a tube. This tube can be inserted either through the abdominal wall or passed through a nostril and down the throat. The food provided through enteral feeding is often partially broken down, eliminating the need for digestion before absorption in the intestines. This approach proves beneficial for individuals with intestinal disorders, especially those suffering from inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease.