Feeding Tubes Pros and Cons in Elderly
Elderly people with critical health are often put on tube feeding. Digestive health begins to diminish as you grow old. Hence, very old people often show poor digestive abilities. As a result, they rapidly lose 20 to 30% of their body weight. If proper nutrition is not provided on time, they can easily risk their life. Feeding through a tube becomes inevitable during times of trauma or surgery, as oral ingestion becomes severely impaired. Medical conditions like dementia, stroke also prevent an individual from normal ingestion of food. Feeding tubes for cancer patients serve a great purpose during such terminal illnesses. However, feeding tubes for the elderly involve myriad risks and complications which are as follows.
Risks of Feeding Tubes
Discomfort
People who are put on a feeding tube often experience discomfort due to gas that enters through the site of insertion. If the tube is not inserted or placed properly, it can give way to air which causes a lot of discomfort for the patient. Also, as the human digestive system is not designed to digest only fluids, the person can take some time to adjust to a liquid diet.
Infection
If there is a leakage at the site of insertion, it could mean a free entry to bacteria and other pathogens. The enlarged stoma at the site of insertion leads to misplacement of the tube, which provides passageway to bacteria.
Clogging
Clogging of feeding tube is one of the most common problems with feeding tubes. The feeding tubes should be cleaned before and after every meal and must be replaced periodically. Clogging also limits the amount of liquid that can be given through a tube.
Disappointment
Tube diet does not provide any kind of gastronomic pleasure to the patient. Eventually, the patient loses interest in meals and goes into depression. Less than 40% of the patients who are tube fed survive more than a year.
Feeding tubes pros and cons should be considered while recommending them to babies as well as elderly. In babies, emphasis should be upon strengthening the oral ingestion skills of the babies, while elderly patients must be provided with proper care and caution while tube feeding
When mom could not eat without choking I also had the choice to take her out of Hospice and have a private care doctor or hospital put in a feeding tube. Hospice will not put in a feeding tube. My friend which is also a nurse told me that after awhile her body would not be able to take in the food right. She would swell up and be very uncomfortable. This is not on the pros and cons I found on the Internet but I am sure it is true. I hope you all don't have to decide if your love one needs a feeding tube or not . It is a hard thing to think about.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Your support at is so helpful. Yes , my BF is still around . He is wonderful. We are going to his jobs Christmas party this next week and I am kind of looking forward to it. Maybe I am getting social again. Hoping everyone has a Wonderful Christmas .
Saturday, December 3, 2011
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The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.
Seven Stages of Alzheimer's
1. No sign of congnitive impairment.
2. Very mild congnitive decline.
3. Mild congnitive decline.
4. Moderate congnitive decline.
5. Moderately severe congnitive decline.
6. Severe congnitive decline.
7. Very severe congnitive decline.
(Congnitive pertains to the mental process of perception, memory, judgement, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.)
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I really appreciate your blog and the information you provide./ Thanks, Papa
ReplyDeleteFeeding tubes are something I may have to think about one day. When someone should die naturally, I am not sure we should keep them alive when they can go home to heaven and be better off. The medical community may want the income, and loved ones may want to hold on. But dying well in the LORD may mean pain killers but not artificial means to keep someone alive. But I haven't had to think this through thoroughly yet.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Karen. Praying for you with the new life you are facing now.
jeeze, Karen.. you'll be back here before Christmas I hope!!! Sooooo ... the romance is blooming and you are being shown off at the work do.... hhmmmmm good sign there. good excuse for a new outfit too.
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you too. I can't say I 'liked' your info on feeding tubes 'cause I have never thought of that aspect and now I will! Never mind, to be forewarned is a good thing.. Take care and you have a great time at the party. xo
Thinking of you this holiday season ...
ReplyDeleteJoyeux Noël
Thanks everyone. I am fine. Just my internet is down at home and I have to go to libary. Which is no fun. I miss you all and am doing Fine. Happy New Year.!!!
ReplyDeleteKaren...haven't been by to see you since November. Just wanted to say I hope you are doing well and having a Happy New Year so far.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Love, Rebecca