Enteral nutrition delivers liquid nutrition into the stomach or small intestine through a feeding tube when a patient cannot eat enough by mouth but the gut is working. It is used after stroke, in critical illness, with swallowing difficulty and during some cancer treatment. The tube may pass through the nose or be placed directly through the abdominal wall.

At Apex, a clinical dietitian in Mumbai selects the formula, calculates the amount and plans how the feed is increased, working with the doctor and nursing team. Feeding rate and volume are adjusted by tolerance, and patients and families are taught how to feed safely at home where needed.

How the Procedure Can Help

It provides full or partial nutrition when eating is not possible, protects strength and supports healing, and keeps the gut working.

Risks and Considerations

Risks include aspiration of feed into the lungs, tube blockage or displacement, nausea, diarrhoea and infection at the tube site. In severely malnourished patients, feeding is started slowly to avoid refeeding syndrome, which is a dangerous shift in blood salts. Patients are monitored regularly.