title: Oral alimentation following intubation for esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: The nutritional status of 15 patients suffering from unresectable carcinoma of the midthoracic esophagus was evaluated before and after palliative pulsion intubation. All patients showed evidence of protein-calorie malnutrition, prior to intubation. Oral alimentation using a formulated hospital ward diet with an elemental dietary supplement reversed the nutritional deficit. A mean daily positive nitrogen balance of seven grams was achieved three weeks following intubation. No episode of tube blockage was observed and the elemental diet supplement was well tolerated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004435:Eating; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010166:Palliative Care; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen