enteral and parenteral nutrition

Question 1

what is enteral nutrition

Answer 1

any method of feeding that uses the GI tract including normal feeding, oral supplements or tube feeding

Question 2

what is parenteral nutrition

Answer 2

intravenous method of delivering nutrition

Question 3

which type of feeding is preferred

Answer 3

enteral feeding that is normal is preferred over tube feeding or supplements and all enteral feeding is preferred over parenteral feeding

Question 4

in which situations is parenteral nutrition required

Answer 4

patient cannot use GI tract
when the gut is obstructed
to avoid starvation when oral or enteral intake are insufficient

Question 5

what are the main problems with PN

Answer 5

associated with GI atrophy
reduction in mass of small and large intestine
bacterial overgrowth
use of needles can scar and also higher risk of infections