Nasogastric tube feeding in infants on peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Enteral nutritional support is an important component of the care provided to infants receiving long-term peritoneal dialysis. In the majority of published experiences on this subject, the use of the nasogastric tube has facilitated the provision of required calorie and protein intake and resulted in an improved patient outcome. Advantages of the nasogastric route of nutritional support include the ease of administration, while recurrent emesis remains the most troublesome and frequent short-term complication associated with its use. Impaired oral-motor development may also result from nonoral feeding and should be addressed throughout the course of tube feeding.