Important Facts Pertaining To An Enteral Feeding Tube
Health is Wealth! Well, this is a timeless adage that holds true even today. Indeed, individuals from their first moment of life to the day they breathe their last often have to be treated for a number of conditions with the life giving medicines and nutrients being provided with the help of an enteral feeding tube.
A few of the patients including neonates and seniors may have to be fed by means of a tube when they are too weakened or ill to accept food orally. However, tube feeding is not a panacea. It becomes a viable option when the patient:-
Is unable to ingest 50% of the food offered orally for more than 5 days at a stretch
Is comatose
Is suffering from severe dysphasia
The tubes vary distinctly in size and purpose as well. While the nasogastric tube (NG tube) are introduced by way of the nose into the stomach and is used for a short term only, the gastric tubes are passed directly into the abdomen via a small incision in the body. Patients requiring tube feeding for days or even weeks receive the nutrients with the help of gastronomy feeding tubes.
Getting adequate nutrition is no doubt essential but so is the elimination of toxic products from the body. The waste products are removed regularly from the body through urination that is affected due to a number of kidney and bladder ailments. Patients who are unable to expel urine naturally often have to make use of extensive urinary catheter kits that can be inserted without too much of trouble at home as well.
Sure, it does sound a trifle scary at times but patients including young children can get the hang of it once they master the basic technique. Not every patient facing kidney or bladder problems need to be catheterized though. Medicos advise inserting a catheter usually when the patient cannot empty the bladder naturally. Such a condition occurs:-
When the patient is unable to get up from the bed
Has undergone surgery recently
In the aftermath of spinal cord injury
Suffers from multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease
Has had a stroke
Suffers from diabetes and is incontinent
Urinary catheters are not created equal, however; nor can one type be replaced freely with another
Intermittent catheter – This catheter can be inserted into the body when a pressure is experienced on the bladder. The insertion is pretty straightforward and can be learnt easily by most people. Even young children of 7 to 8 years of age have been known to catheterize themselves successfully.
Indwelling catheter – This device is retained within the body for a long period that varies with the necessity. It is usually inserted into the bladder by surgical intervention or passed directly through the urethra. Patients would be unable to do it themselves as it requires the expertise of a medical professional.
It is vital to check the facts and remain informed about the purpose of a specific type when it needs to be used by a patient at home.
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