Myths and Misconceptions Surrounding Enteral Feeding

Some people regard enteral feeding as something of a taboo subject; the fact it’s not quite understood means that it’s tarnished with all sorts of myths and misconceptions.

However, for some individuals it’s just a way of life. Some people will rely on Kangaroo feeding pumps and while their eating practices might be completely different to the majority of the world, it generally doesn’t inhibit other parts of their life whatsoever.

Following on from the above, let’s take a look at some of the biggest myths and misconceptions that blight enteral feeding and those patients who use it. 

Myth #1 – You can only be fed at one particular time

This is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about this form of feeding. Enteral feeding actually allows for a huge degree of flexibility and in a lot of cases, the patient themselves will decide when to feed themselves. This usually occurs through Bolus feeding, where specific volumes are consumed at certain points in the day through a drip mechanism.

Some patients may opt for a different approach; continuous feeding. As the name suggests, this refers to the way in which the patient is fed continuously over a specific duration of time. The pump used to provide this food is programmed to run at a set rate, which again means that the whole process is very much flexible.

Myth #2 – All pumps are placed in the same place

Again, another huge misconception.

The placing of the tube for this type of feeding will vary depending on the patient’s condition. Some people may have it flowing directly into their stomach, while others might have it directed to the small intestine. There are even cases where the tube will go through the nose and down into the stomach, although this tends to be for shorter term cases.

In short, there’s no “standard” form for this type of feeding and if you do need to take advantage it, the placing of the tube will depend on your own circumstances.

Myth #3 – The procedure is painful

When the tube for the feed is initially inserted, some patients have said that there is a sharp pain. However, this tends to be the only pain associated with enteral feeding and from here on, it’s very much pain free.

Additionally, if a patient is having an enterostomy tube inserted, it goes without saying that there will be the usual healing to contend with due to the fact that this is implemented in surgery.

The feed itself is not painful, contrary to some people’s beliefs.

Myth #4 – Everyone eats the same

Most people assume that as food and drink is not going through the normal process, then taste goes out of the window. In other words, everyone “may as well” consume the same ingredients.

Suffice to say, this isn’t the case at all.

Each patient will be given their own feeding formula, with this dependent on their own nutritional needs. There are actually a lot of brands who provide these feeds, so at times patients might get similar foods – albeit made by different companies.