Define Nutrition Support in elderly - Parenteral, Enteral and Oral?
Under nutrition either due to dietary deficit a due to a medical complication may arise in the elderly. The nutritional support, therefore, needs to be individually modified based on changes in metabolism. Let us review each of the nutrition support i.e. parenteral, enteral and oral and their indications.
Parenteral feeding is used in cases when neither oral nor enteral feeding is possible. F or example, in case of non-functional GI tract. Close monitoring is required in this feeding. Use of low osmolality nutritional preparation is also emphasized. During prolonged use, central line is preferred and care needs to be taken to prevent catheters related infections. Use of pharmacological methods is the second line of treatment for under nutrition, if the initial nutritional support fails.