What is the Difference Between Enteral and Parenteral Feeding

Many chronic health problems have special dietary needs such as parenteral or enteral feeding. If you ever wondered what is enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition, this is for you. If your loved one cannot swallow food normally, enteral and parenteral feeding may be required. In this article, we share more about parenteral feeding vs. enteral feeding.

Enteral Feeding

Enteral feeding is referring to the liquid nutrition that is taken by the gastrointestinal tract. People who go through enteral feeding take their meals through a tube that is connected to their stomach or small intestine. Enteral feeding provides supplemental nutrition sometimes but for others, it accounts for a patient’s whole caloric intake.

Enteral nutrition reduces the risk of malnourishment, or the lack of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. If your loved one cannot take in enough throughout the day, they are more likely to lose weight and face health issues. Some conditions that benefit from enteral feeding include:

• Dysphagia
• A stroke
• Cancer
• Critical injuries
• Neurologic or movement disorders

There are six main types of enteral feeding:

• Nasogastric tube
• Orogastric tube
• Nasoenteric tube
• Oroenteric tube
• Gastrostomy tube
• Jejunostomy tube

Parenteral Feeding

Parenteral feeding refers to the liquid nutrition that is processed by the veins. This is riskier compared to enteral feeding, but it can result in improved energy and health. There are people who need parenteral feeding while they are recovering from surgery, while others need it long-term.

Parenteral nutrition is similar to enteral nutrition in the sense that it prevents malnourishment. It is created to help with gastrointestinal issues that affect them from digesting their food well. Some common conditions that can benefit from parenteral nutrition include:

• Short bowel syndrome
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Low blood flow to bowels
• Ischemic bowel disease

Parenteral feeding administers carbohydrates, proteins, sugar, lipids, and other nutrients using a needle and into the vein. These nutrients ensure that you have the energy and hydration needed for life. Parenteral feeding is designed for people with digestive or gastrointestinal issues. These are the two main types of parenteral feeding:

• Total Parenteral Nutrition. If your loved one has a long-term nutritional need, this is for them. It will require a brief outpatient procedure to insert the central catheter into the vein of the patient.
• Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition. If your loved one is recovering from a surgery or other medical procedure and only needs to have short-term nutritional needs, this is the suitable one for them. It is delivered using an external IV instead of the internal one.

After reading this article, you have a better sense of what is enteral and parenteral feeding. Both are ways to ensure that the patient receives the right nutrition that is necessary for them. These are some things that a caregiver has to know when taking care of their loved one.

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