Tag: Patient support

According to the National Cancer Institute, partial parenteral nutrition (PPN) is a form of short-term nutritional support given directly into the bloodstream through a catheter when a person cannot get enough calories or nutrients orally. This supplemental approach, which can also be delivered enterally, is crucial for improving health outcomes.

For some patients, enteral nutrition is not the sole source of nutrients; some people are still able to consume food orally alongside their tube feeds. This ability depends heavily on a patient's underlying medical condition and swallowing function, which must be assessed by a healthcare team.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), enteral feeding, or enteral nutrition, is considered the preferred method for nutritional support in critically ill patients who have a functioning gastrointestinal tract, highlighting its importance in medical care. This form of feeding uses the digestive system to deliver nutrients, making it a crucial and common practice in modern medicine.

Millions of deaths globally are linked to poor nutrition, emphasizing the need for expert guidance. The role of a nutrition counsellor bridges the gap between general dietary knowledge and personalized health strategies.

According to research, artificial nutrition and hydration were originally developed to provide short-term support for acutely ill patients who are unable to feed themselves naturally. This medical intervention, which bypasses normal eating, has evolved to serve critical functions in preventing and treating malnutrition across a variety of clinical scenarios.

According to research, malnutrition can increase patient mortality rates and extend hospital stays. This is a key reason why is artificial nutrition important—it provides essential nutrients when natural feeding isn't possible, directly addressing life-threatening malnutrition and its complications.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a feeding tube is used to supply nutrients and fluids if a person cannot safely chew or swallow, or cannot consume enough by mouth. The necessity for a feeding tube can arise from a wide range of medical conditions, some temporary and others requiring long-term support.

Malnutrition affects 10–50% of patients admitted to the hospital, and it is a major concern for individuals with underlying medical conditions or impaired nutritional intake. This is a key reason why someone would need artificial nutrition, a medical technique used to provide nutrients when a patient is unable to feed themselves adequately through normal oral means. This approach can range from simple liquid supplements to complex intravenous feeding, depending on the patient's condition and needs.

According to Care Options for Kids, tube feeding is typically the preferred method of nutritional support if the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is functional. This raises an important question for patients and caregivers: what is the difference between a TPN and a feeding tube? The core distinction lies in the delivery method, with TPN bypassing the digestive system entirely while a feeding tube uses it.

Studies suggest that many individuals require enteral nutrition for extended periods, and for them, transitioning to home care is a viable option. With the right support and a comprehensive care plan, a person can live at home with a feeding tube, maintaining independence and a high quality of life.