Which of the following are reasons to use enteral feeding over parenteral? 1. Reduced incidence of stress ulcers. 2. Enteral route may avoid intestinal atrophy. 3. Enteral causes less hypoglycemia. 4. Enteral is safer and cheaper

Question

a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1, 2, and 4 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 3 and 4 only

Answer 1

ANS: B
Enteral feedings are the route of choice: "If the gut works, use it." The enteral route is safer and cheaper to use than the parenteral route. Enteral feeding stimulates gut hormones, subjects nutri-ents to the absorptive and metabolic controls of the intestinal tract and liver, and produces less hyperglycemia (providing for better immune function) than the parenteral route. In addition, the buffering capacity of enteral feeding can improve resistance against stress ulcers. Finally, enteral feeding maintains a more normal intestinal mucosa than the parenteral route (the intestinal muco-sa may undergo atrophy during parenteral nutrition).