title: Enteral access in adults.
abstract: Enteral feeding is widely used for hospitalized patients but is also used for ambulatory persons living at home or in home care settings. Aside from decisions that must be made about appropriate nutrient delivery, choices related to which type of enteral access will be used and the procedures for enteral access surveillance are extremely important. In this paper we review the various techniques for establishment of enteral access in adult patients. Prevention and treatment of potential complications are detailed. The use of protocols that are written by a multidisciplinary nutrition team is mandatory. It is also of vital importance to discuss treatment plans with the patient and care givers, to assure appropriate follow-up, and to consider ethical issues related to enteral feeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, CHU Brugmann, ULB, Place Van Gehuchten, 4, 1020 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pancreatology, Erasme University Hospital, ULB, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Andre.Van.Gossum@erasme.ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Gossum
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Nurse, Nutrition Team, Erasme University Hospital, ULB, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Asuncion
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballarin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Pancreatology, Erasme University Hospital, ULB, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arvanitakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Endoscopy; Enteral feeding; Gastrostomy; Jejunostomy; Tube feeding