Tube Feeding
The delivery of liquid nutrition directly into the stomach or intestine through a tube, used when patients cannot eat safely by mouth. Also called enteral nutrition, it supports patients with swallowing impairments or critical illness.
What is tube feeding?
Tube feeding is the delivery of liquid nutrition directly into the stomach or intestine through a tube, used when a patient cannot eat safely or adequately by mouth. It is also referred to as enteral nutrition because it uses the digestive tract.
The tube may be placed through the nose for short-term use or surgically into the stomach or intestine for longer-term needs, depending on the patient's situation.
Why does tube feeding matter?
Tube feeding sustains patients who have swallowing impairments, are critically ill, or otherwise cannot meet their nutritional needs orally, helping preserve strength and support recovery.
Placement of feeding tubes is one area where outpatient procedural settings intersect with this therapy, since certain tube placements can be performed as planned procedures with appropriate documentation and coding.
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