Managing Today’s Home Tube Fed Patient: Optimizing Delivery and Tolerance

Over 450,000 Americans receive tube feeding at home. It’s important to establish a tube feeding regimen with the patient and/or caregiver that supports a positive quality of life especially in the home setting. This presentation addresses examples of various delivery methods and practical tips that can help make tube feeding regimens more manageable to meet individual needs and how to resolve common challenges associated with feeding tubes. Plus, a review of how to assess GI intolerance and alleviate symptoms, including but not limited to, the role of home blenderized and commercially prepared real food-based formulas.

1. Identify common challenges associated with feeding tubes and strategies to avoid such challenges
2. Describe key parameters used to assess GI intolerance and identify feeding regimen options to alleviate symptoms
3. Describe dos and don’ts when recommending a blenderized or commercially prepared food-based tube feeding