INCORPORATING ENTERAL NUTRITION FOR OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE

摘要

Adequate intake of calories and other nutrients is critical for the optimal care of hospitalized patients. When oral intake is not possible, either because of contraindications or because the animal will not eat sufficient amounts voluntarily, nutritional support techniques are then needed to provide some or all of the nutrient requirements. The optimal route for feeding in these patients depends upon a number of patient-dependent issues including the function of the GI tract, the patient's ability to tolerate tube placement, and risk of aspiration, as well as nonpatient issues such as cost, technical expertise, and support. Below is a flow chart illustrating one way to help decide which route to use for nutritional support.