ABSTRACT

If the gut works, use it! Where possible, enteral nutrition is preferable to parenteral nutrition as it helps to maintain the integrity of the local defence barrier of the intestinal wall and prevents colonisation and systemic invasion by gut bacteria. Enteral feeding is also cheaper and easier to moniter. All patients who have a functional gastrointestinal tract, but are not able to take food safely by mouth, should be considered for PEG feeding. Those who can swallow safely, but are unable to eat enough, may also benefit from PEG feeding to supplement their nutritional intake.