When individuals are unable to meet their nutritional needs through regular eating and drinking, specialized nutritional support becomes essential. Whether due to illness, injury, or developmental needs, modern nutrition therapies provide safe and effective ways to deliver vital nourishment at any stage of life.
The Role of
Enteral Nutrition
Tube feeding, also known as enteral nutrition, delivers liquid nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine through a feeding tube. It’s commonly used for infants, children, teens, and adults who cannot eat or drink enough on their own but still have a functioning digestive system.
Enteral nutrition helps:
- Maintain adequate calorie and nutrient intake
- Support growth, healing, and overall health
- Reduce the risks associated with malnutrition
Types of Nutrition Therapy
GRAVITY FEEDING
Gravity feeding relies on the natural force of gravity to deliver enteral nutrition from a feeding bag through the tube and into the stomach or intestine. The feeding bag is elevated above the patient, allowing formula to flow at a controlled rate using a roller clamp.
PUMP ASSISTED FEEDING
Pump-assisted feeding uses an electronic enteral feeding pump to deliver nutrition at a precisely controlled rate over a set period of time. This method allows for consistent, accurate delivery and is especially beneficial for patients who require continuous feeding, slow infusion rates, or close tolerance monitoring.
Nasal
Feeding Tubes
These tubes are inserted through the nasal cavity and are commonly used for short-term enteral nutrition. Typical options include weighted Dobbhoff tubes as well as ENFit-compatible enteral feeding tubes, which are designed to enhance safety and reduce the risk of misconnections.
Types of nasal feeding tubes:
- Nasogastric (NG) Tubes
- Nasoduodenal (ND) Tubes
- Nasojejunal (NJ) Tubes
Endoscopic
Feeding Tubes
These tubes are placed directly through the abdominal wall into the stomach or small intestine and are designed for long-term enteral nutrition support. They are typically used when patients cannot meet their nutritional needs orally for an extended period and provide a reliable option for ongoing feeding and medication administration.
Types of endoscopic feeding tubes:
- Gastrostomy (G) Tubes
- Jejunostomy (J) Tubes
Enteral
Infusion Pumps
Enteral infusion pumps support safe, consistent delivery of nutrition across hospital and home care settings. Designed for accuracy and reliability, they enable controlled feeding therapy while helping reduce interruptions and manual workload. With intuitive operation and dependable performance, enteral pumps simplify daily care for clinicians, patients, and caregivers alike.
Enteral infusion pump options:
- Amsino PUGGLE Enteral Feeding Pump
- Cardinal Kangaroo Joey
- Cardinal Kangaroo Omni
- MOOG EnteraLite Infinity
- MOOG Infinity Orange
