Tube feed or not tube feed?
Tube feeding should always be considered relative to patient goals. Physicians should be prepared to discuss tube feeding as an option bearing in mind what evidence (or lack thereof) exists that tube feeding will help reach such goals.
Hallenbeck
James
J
VA Palo Alto HSC, California 94304, USA. james.hallenbeck@med.va.gov
D003657:Decision Making; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D013727:Terminal Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome