Tube Feeding
- Tube feeding, also known as enteral nutrition, is a way of providing essential nourishment to people who are unable to eat or drink by mouth, or who need extra support to meet their nutritional needs. There are different types of feeding tubes that deliver nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine. People of all ages may use feeding tubes, including babies, children, teenagers, and adults. Blended foods, breastmilk, formula, liquids, medicine and water may be given through a feeding tube. A doctor will determine what type of tube and feeds is required based on the person's needs. Common types of feeding tubes are:
- A nasogastric tube - often called an NG tube. This tube is inserted through the nose and runs down to the stomach. It is usually used for short term tube feeding.
- A nasojejunal tube - often called an NJ tube or Transpyloric (TP). This tube is inserted through the nose and runs through the stomach and down to the jejunum (small intestine).
- A gastrostomy tube - often called a G tube. This tube is inserted into the stomach through a small opening made in the abdominal wall. They include a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) and low profile device/button (balloon and non-balloon).
- A jejunal or jejunostomy tube – often called a J tube. This tube is inserted into the jejunum (small intestine) through a small opening in the abdominal wall.
- A gastrojejunal or gastro-jejunostomy tube or trans-gastric jejunal tube – often called a G-J tube. This is a small button or tube with two feeding ports, one goes into the stomach - on the side of the button and one goes into the small intestine - on the top of the button. Some also have a port for inflating a balloon.
The feed can be delivered into the feeding tube by pump, gravity drip bag or syringe.
This information has been sourced from The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Read fact sheets on tube feeding on their website here.
Reasons for Tube Feeding
A person needing tube feeding usually has a condition or injury that prevents them from eating an adequate regular diet by mouth. The medical conditions that can lead to feeding difficulties where tube feeding is needed, are varied, and many of them aren’t visible.
Common reasons for using this type of nutrition include:- stroke or other neurological conditions which impairs swallowing- after some types of operations to the head, neck or stomach- after radiotherapy to the head and neck area- being unable to consume adequate nutrients- severe illness or injury which reduces the ability to eat- poor growth (failure to thrive) or inability to eat in young children or infants.
This information has been sourced from Dietitians Australia website here.
This information has been sourced from Dietitians Australia website here.
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