Enteral feeding delivers liquid nutrition (protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) and fluids directly to the stomach or intestine through a soft, flexible plastic tube.
Nasogastric Tube
Nasoduodenal and Nasojejunal Tubes
Nasoduodenal (ND) and nasojejunal (NJ) feeding use a tube inserted through the nose that extends past the stomach into either the duodenum (the first, upper part of the small intestine) or the jejunum (the second part of the small intestine).
Gastric Tube
Gastric feeding, or gastrostomy feeding, is used for long-term ongoing nutritional support. A gastroenterologist or a surgeon will make a small but permanent opening in the upper abdominal wall, above the belly button. A short tube — one end sticking out of the skin, the other end opening into the stomach — allows for the delivery of food directly into the stomach, bypassing the throat entirely.
This is also known as a PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube), or G-tube.