[Enteral feeding at home]

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Gastroenterology
• Patient Care

Context:

• Patients discharged from the hospital require ongoing nutritional support.
• Traditional hospital-based nutrition can be costly and may not be continued post-discharge.
• Home-based nutritional interventions are needed to ensure continuity of care.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of home enteral nutrition (HEN) for post-hospitalization patients.
• To assess the impact of HEN on nutritional status and patient outcomes.
• To determine the cost-effectiveness and patient acceptance of HEN.

Summary:

• Enteral nutrition was administered to patients at home via a Dobbhoff tube, with some patients initiating treatment at home to avoid hospitalization.
• In most cases, enteral feeding was the sole source of nutrition, providing all necessary calories and proteins.
• All patients demonstrated improved nutritional condition without any adverse events related to the enteral nutrition.

Impact:

• Facilitates adequate nutritional support for patients in their homes, even in complex cases.
• Low-cost and easy-to-prepare enteral diets enable home administration for low-income patients.
• Shortens hospitalization duration and prevents nutritional deficiencies after hospital discharge.