YOUR PATIENTS ARE WHAT YOU FEED THEM

No doubt youʼve noticed the recent trend toward giving enteral tube feedings to patients who previously mightʼve received total parenteral nutrition by central venous hyperalimentation.Why the switch? Because enteral nutrition is more compatible with normal physiology, safer and easier than I.V. feedings, more economical, and more nutritious than ever.Recent advances in enteral nutrition include using new equipment such as infusion pumps for more accurate delivery of fluids; new soft, small-lumen tubes; new techniques such as giving formula by continuous drip instead of bolus feedings; new tube feeding sets.Here, weʼll focus on the new tube feeding sets that come complete with formula and delivery system, but weʼll also include some helpful advice about techniques.