Artificial nutrition is a special type of nutrition used in patients who are unable or unwilling to eat normally. It is a special formula or emulsion delivered directly into the gastrointestinal tract or intravenously.
Description
Artificial nutrition contains all of the nutrients that are required for sustaining life and help with recovery, providing patients with calories, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
It is indicated in conditions where normal feeding is impossible or inadequate, including:
- Abnormality of the upper GI tract (such as a tumor or trauma)
- Prolonged, chronic vomiting
- Unconcious or uncooporative patients
- Certain GI procedures
- Pancreatitis
- Terminally ill patients
There are two types of artificial nutrition: