4 things to know

when managing a

patient on

Enteral feeding pump

WHAT IS ENTERAL FEEDING?

Enteral feeding’ is the commonly used medical term referring

to tube feeding.

Enteral feeding means intake of food via the gastrointestinal

(GI) tract. The mouth, esophagus, stomach and the intestines

together form our Gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Enteral feeding

includes both food taken through the mouth or through a

tube that goes directly to the stomach or small intestine.

A patient may not be able to swallow food through the

mouth, but the rest of the GI tract may be functioning

properly. Hence being fed through a tube allows them to

receive nutrition either in the stomach or intestine and hence

and keep their GI tract working.

 Parenteral feeding is when the required nutrition is

PARENTERAL VS
directly delivered into the blood stream

intravenously (through IV) rather than use any part

ENTERAL FEEDING of the GI tract. If only supplementary nutrition is

given intravenously, it’s called peripheral parenteral

nutrition (PPN). When one is getting all of their

nutritional requirements through IV, it is called total

parenteral nutrition (TPN).

While parenteral feeding can be life-saving

under certain circumstances, enteral nutrition is

always the preferred option, if possible. This is

since enteral feeding keeps the GI tract working

as much as possible and helps with immune

system function. In cases where parts of GI tract

(i.e the stomach or intestines) are not working

properly, enteral feeding may not be an option.

WHY IS ENTERAL FEEDING NEEDED?

Tube feedings may be resorted to when the patient can’t eat enough calories to meet

their nutritional needs, in the normal way. This may be because they can’t eat or swallow

properly or can do so with difficulty but run the risk of aspirating fluids or food into their

lungs.

Some of the reasons why a patient cannot eat or swallow properly could include,
Stroke leading to impairment of ability to swallow
Cancer, which may cause fatigue, nausea, and vomiting in a patient who is already

weak
Serious injury due to accident or trauma
Neurological or movement disorders etc.
The patient may be in danger of malnourishment, weight loss or other very serious

health issues if they did not take-in enough nutrition or calories as required.
 The placement of the tube and type of feed formula

TYPES OF
will be recommended by the doctor based on the

ENTERAL FEEDING patient’s digestive abilities (i.e. which parts of the GI

tract is functioning properly) and nutritional needs.

The main types of enteral feeding tubes include:

Tube inserted through the nose ending in the

stomach.
Tube inserted through the mouth ending in the

stomach.
Tube inserted through the nose ending in the

intestines.
Tube inserted through the mouth ending in the

intestines.
Tube inserted through the skin of the abdomen

straight to the stomach.

Tube inserted through the skin of the abdomen

straight into the intestines.

TYPES OF ENTERAL FEEDING DEVICES
The following devices are commonly used in enteral

feeding:

Feeding Syringe
Feeding Bag
Feeding Pump

A feeding pump is considered a better device than gravity-driven bolus feeds

(syringe) or the continuous infusion of enteral feeding through bags regulated by a

roller clamp attached to the tubing. A few reasons are – the higher accuracy and

consistency in delivery of the formula and the minimization of errors associated

with tube mis-connection.

Types of Feeding Devices
...contd.
Feeding pumps come with
a. Screen display and programming options

(Microprocessor chip based more accurate flow and

volume setting)
b. Safety Alarms
c. Air-bubble detector
d. Automated tube flush etc.

Feeding pumps help manage nursing/ care-giver time better

by reducing the frequency of feed to 4-6 hourly rather than

hourly, while ensuring microbial safety of the feed. It is a

particularly safer option if the patient is being attended to at

home setting by family members.

 Some of the most common complications that may occur

CARE TO BE
due to enteral feeding is -

TAKEN DURING
Aspiration – food going into the lungs,
ENTERAL
Infection of the tube or insertion site,
Nausea and vomiting that may result from feeds that are

FEEDING too large or fast, or from slowed emptying of the stomach,

Skin irritation at the tube insertion site,
Diarrhea due to a liquid diet or possibly medications,
Tube dislodgement or tube blockage, which may occur if

not flushed properly. Hence due caution needs to be

observed.

Enteral feeding is done usually for a small period of time

while the patient recovers from an illness, injury, or surgery.

With proper care taken all will be well and the patient would

easily return to regular eating.

 www.primedeq.com
Contact Us - +918971223957 or 7019759765
for
Enteral Feeding Pump Rental Services