title: Enteral nutrition in the pediatric population.
abstract: Enteral feeding, the provision of liquid nutrients into the gastrointestinal tract, is an important component of pediatric care. For the infant or child with a functioning or even a partially-functioning GI tract, the use of the enteral route provides a safe and efficient means of delivering nutrition at a time of life when requirements are extremely high. In addition to high nutrient requirements in the early years of life, there are a number of specific pediatric conditions, such as failure to thrive, short bowel syndrome, and congenital heart disease, which place further demands on the growing child. These demands can be met through the careful use of enteral feeds. This article reviews the physiology and practical application of enteral feeding to the pediatric age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29403, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000075202:Contraindications; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000628:therapy; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy