Feeding Route
The feeding route, or placement of the feeding tube, depends on the patient’s medical status and the anticipated length of time tube feeding will be used. Transnasal routes include nasogastric (NG), nasoduodenal (ND), and nasojejunal (NJ), of which is the most common. They are generally used for tube feedings of relatively short duration (i.e., 3–4 weeks). For permanent or long-term feedings, a surgical incision or needle puncture is used to create an ostomy route, either into the stomach (gastrostomy) or jejunum (jejunostomy). The advantages of ostomyr outes are that they can be hidden under clothing and eliminate irritation to the mucous membranes. The correct placement of any feeding tube should be verifi ed by radiographs before the first feeding is initiated. Table 15.4 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of various feeding routes.