Enteral Nutrition

Enteral nutrition may be needed during illness, surgery, injury, or while recovering from aggressive treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy. This type of nutritional support is used when a person’s stomach and intestines are functioning, but the person is unable, unwilling, or incapable of eating regular food.

What are these specific conditions?

Some common examples are listed below.

• A person cannot chew or swallow normally and therefore cannot eat regular food. Examples include stroke and head and facial injuries;
• Due to their health condition, they cannot eat as usual. This occurs, for example, in the early postoperative period, when a patient has undergone major gastrointestinal surgery and needs some time to begin eating a full diet using regular foods;
• The patient suffers from anorexia, depression, and simply does not want to eat. This phenomenon is common in oncology. However, unfortunately, so-called anorexia can also occur in young women who simply decide to lose weight and then, without realizing it, find themselves in a difficult situation from which they can hardly escape without outside help. A doctor and a special diet;
• Patients have increased energy and protein requirements due to high body temperature or massive fluid loss, such as from diarrhea, burn wounds, festering wounds, or severe infections. In such cases, it is impossible to address nutritional needs and obtain all the nutrients necessary for recovery through diet alone.

Why must a sick person immediately receive compensation for nutrient deficiencies? If a nutrient deficiency persists for more than two or three days, protein begins to be used as an energy source for vital processes. If proteins are used to meet the body’s energy needs, there will not be enough left to build new tissues and heal wounds.

If nutrient absorption from the intestine is possible in principle, why is this so important?

• If the intestine does not receive nutrients directly from digested food, the cells responsible for absorption are destroyed;
• The cells of the intestinal mucosa act as a barrier and prevent microorganisms from entering the bloodstream. When the intestinal mucosa is deprived of nutrients and atrophies, it ceases to function as a barrier, increasing the risk of infections spreading from the intestines into the bloodstream;
• The gut microbiota also feeds on digested food. If nutrients are not supplied, the beneficial microorganisms that support the immune system are suppressed.

What does therapeutic nutrition provide for the body?

What is enteral nutrition (EN)?

It is a form of artificial nutrition in which a person receives a special formula consisting of proteins (or hydrolyzed proteins), fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The components of the mixture are selected so that they are absorbed more completely and easily than the nutrients found in regular food. Special chemical substances can be used in various ways, depending on the person’s condition. It can be added to regular prepared meals, enriching them with protein, energy, vitamins, and trace elements. It can be consumed as a drink or a cocktail; by slowly sipping the mixture through a straw, all the ingredients of the therapeutic product are immediately absorbed and incorporated into the person’s metabolism. This method of taking therapeutic nutrition is called a drink (from the English word “drink,” meaning to drink in small sips).

A universal intestinal nutrition mixture is available, specially formulated for recovery from certain diseases or critical conditions.

• Diabetes, hyperglycemia;
• Liver failure;
• Renal failure;
• Respiratory failure;
• Immunodeficiency.

For patients unable to swallow or drink, administer Fresubin Original formulas via feeding tubes or gastrostomy.

Enteral nutrition should be initiated immediately if there are no contraindications. If the formula type is selected according to the patient’s diagnosis and nutrition is administered strictly according to the prescription, it is beneficial and does not cause complications.

Enteral nutrition is an integral and very important component of treatment. It helps a person recover from illness or a serious condition so they can live a full life.