ENTERAL NUTRITION: OPTIMAL USE OF FEEDING

Course overview

"If the gut works, use it!" Dietitians are familiar with that mantra and well aware that in most cases, enteral nutrition is the preferred route of feeding for patients who require specialized nutrition support. While there is general agreement on the unique benefits of enteral nutrition, safe initiation and advancement of enteral feeding is quite often very difficult in practice. It is vital that the feeding tube selection and access be done with the patient's unique needs in mind. Selection of the best enteral formula for the patient from the more than 200 commercial formulas now available may seem like a daunting task. Patients may experience preventable complications like diarrhea, electrolyte abnormalities, tube dislodgement or aspiration.