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Enteral NutritionSerrano M, Mannick EE: Enteral Nutrition. Pediatrics in Review 2003; 24(12):417-423.
Enteral nutrition is a safe and efficient method of providing nutrition when children cannot ingest sufficient nutrients orally. This article reviews the indications for enteral feedings, techniques, formulas, home enteral nutrition, monitoring, and complications. Nasogastric tube feeding is used for short-term, temporary management of poor sucking, mouth lesions, pharynx lesions, and swallowing problems. Gastronomy feeding is used for long-term enteral feedings. A wide variety of standardized formulas exist, including soy, protein, and elemental formulas.
Complications include gastrointestinal issues around nausea and vomiting, metabolic dehydration, mechanical pyloric stenosis, skin irritations, and developmental refusal of food. Advances in enteral nutrition techniques have contributed to an increased survival and decreased morbidity and mortality of newborns and older children (such as the presenting case of an 8-year-old with severe facial and neurological trauma requiring months of enteral nutrition).