Clinical Nutrition: Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition

Introduction

Clinical nutrition plays a vital role in patient care, especially for individuals unable to consume food orally. This blog explores the two primary methods—Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition.

Enteral Nutrition

Definition

Enteral nutrition (EN) involves delivering nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract through feeding tubes.

Indications

Patients with swallowing disorders
Neurological impairments (e.g., stroke)
Severe malnutrition

Types of Enteral Feeding

Nasogastric (NG) tube feeding
Gastrostomy (PEG tube) feeding
Jejunostomy feeding

Parenteral Nutrition

Definition

Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides essential nutrients intravenously, bypassing the GI tract completely.

Indications

Patients with GI dysfunction (e.g., Short Bowel Syndrome)
Severe pancreatitis
Intestinal obstructions

Types of Parenteral Nutrition

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)

Comparison: Enteral vs. Parenteral Nutrition

Aspect	Enteral Nutrition	Parenteral Nutrition
Route	GI tract	Intravenous
Indications	Oral intake is possible but impaired	GI tract is non-functional
Risk Factors	GI intolerance	Infections, metabolic complications

Conclusion

Both Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition provide life-sustaining nutrients. Choosing the right method depends on the patient's medical condition and needs.