Case Review: Subsequent Admissions
During the next 3 months, TN required 3 more admissions
to the PICU. Each admission lasted between 6 and 14
days. The main clinical problems in each readmission were
pain, increased output from the external pancreatic drain,
agitation, insulin maintenance, and diet management. Difficulty
in diet management (feeding through a gastrojejunal
tube) was a marked problem mainly because of TN’s developmental
level; he could not comprehend why he could no
longer consume food by mouth. He constantly wanted the
oral satisfaction of eating food. His family managed the
problem by keeping TN on a strict feeding regimen via the
gastrojejunal tube while allowing minimal oral intake