Enteral tube feeding--from hospital to home

Abstract

There are a number of benefits to providing home enteral feeding, however, problems can occur if care is not taken to arrange training and after-care appropriately. It is therefore essential to facilitate an informed and thorough transfer of care to minimize potential problems. This article will address some of the issues that arise when patients who require home enteral feeding are discharged from hospital to their own homes or to care homes. These issues include the knowledge that is required to enable the patient and/or carer to safely manage their feeding tube, the feeding regimen, the continuing support required from health-care professionals, and some of the more common problems that may arise.