Don't be afraid of feeding through a tube (Enteral Nutrition)! Let's talk about this

It's normal to feel a little scared and anxious when your doctor tells you or someone in your family that you need to be fed through a tube. "How am I going to eat now?", "Will this last long?", etc. Many questions may come to mind. But this is actually a very important and safe way to provide the body with the necessary nutrition and fluids for someone who cannot chew and swallow food properly. Let's talk about everything in simple terms today.

Simply put, what is this tube feeding?

Tube feeding, or in medical terms, ``Enteral Nutrition,'' is the use of a flexible, thin plastic tube (a tube) to deliver liquid nutritional food directly into your ``Gastrointestinal Tract.'' Sometimes, these tubes are also used to give medication.

Think of it this way. Normally, we eat food through our mouths, and it goes through our esophagus to our stomach, and from there to our intestines. But if for some reason this journey is not possible, we create another route. That's how it is with this. This tube is used to send food that cannot go through our mouths and esophagus directly to our stomach or small intestine.

Are there any types of feeding tubes?

Yes, they are divided into several types, mainly depending on where they are placed and how long they are used.

Short-term use tubes (less than 4-6 weeks)

These are usually given through the nose. You may also have a tube inserted first to see how your body responds to these liquid foods.

Long-term use tubes (more than 4-6 weeks)

If a feeding tube is needed for a long time, doctors may recommend inserting a tube through the abdominal wall directly into the stomach or small intestine. This is done through a minor surgery.

What kind of people need to be fed through a tube like this?

Now you may be wondering, "Why would someone need something like this?" The main reason is that they are unable to get enough nutrition through their mouth. This method is especially necessary if they have a condition called ``Dysphagia'', which makes it difficult to chew or swallow food.

This method helps maintain the health of your body's metabolism and digestive system.

Some situations where a tube may be needed are:

• Difficulty swallowing due to head and neck cancers or injuries to those areas.
• Severe eating disorders.
• Stomach and intestinal problems, such as narrowing of the food pipe.
• Diseases that interfere with the body's absorption of nutrients, such as severe Crohn's disease.
• Diseases of the nervous system such as stroke .
• Temporary loss of the ability to swallow due to recent surgery or illness.
• Situations of unconsciousness `(Coma)`.

What kind of experience do you get when you have a tube inserted?

This will vary depending on the type of tube you have and the reason for it. While you are in the hospital, the nursing staff will take care of feeding you through the tube and cleaning it. However, if you go home with the tube, you and your caregivers will be trained on how to use and care for it.

How is the tube inserted into the body?

These are usually inserted in the hospital, but you can continue to use them at home.

• Nasal tube: This is not a major procedure. It can be done while you are lying in bed. The doctor or a trained nurse will numb the tube and carefully insert it through your nose into your stomach or intestines. You may be asked to drink some water through a straw at this time, so the tube will go down more easily.
• Stomach tube: This requires a minor surgery. You will need to fast for about 8 hours before the procedure. If you are taking anticoagulants, you will be asked to stop taking them for a few days. You will be given anesthesia so you will not feel any pain . There are several ways to do this surgery:
• Endoscopy: A tube with a camera attached is inserted through the mouth to look inside the stomach. A small incision is made in the skin of the stomach and the tube is inserted.
• By X-ray: The tube is inserted by looking at the X-ray images to identify the correct location.
• Through surgery: Sometimes the tube is inserted through open surgery or laparoscopy (through a few small incisions with the help of a camera).

How do you get food through the tube?

There are two ways to do this.

1. Bolus feedings: Just like we eat three meals a day, liquid food is given into the tube at specific times of the day using a syringe. This method is usually done for people who have a tube in their stomach because the stomach can handle a large amount of food at a time.

2. Continuous feeding: If the tube is placed in the small intestine, it is not possible to feed a large amount at once. Therefore, a pump is used to continuously feed the baby little by little over a period of hours.

Your doctor and nutritionist will calculate the amount of calories, vitamins, and protein you need and recommend the right liquid formula for you.

How do you care for the tube and the skin around it?

You need to keep the tube from getting clogged and prevent skin infections around it.

What are the risks?

There may be some stomach pain and bloating for the first few days after a tube is inserted. You may also experience stomach upset and diarrhea as your body adjusts to the new diet. These usually resolve within a few days.

The risk of other complications is low, but it's good to know:

• The tube is stuck, damaged, or dislodged.
• Infection at the site of the tube insertion.
• Persistent constipation, nausea, or diarrhea.
• Food entering the lungs (Aspiration pneumonia).

If you have any doubts about anything like this, talk to your doctor immediately.