Guest guest Posted June 11, 2003 Report Share Posted June 11, 2003 Hi Amy, It is good to hear from you. Did I understand you right in that you do have a bowel obstruction? Did the doctor say that TPN was your only viable option for nutritional intake? The only experience I have is not personal, but with my patients. Depending on where the obstruction was, they were usually put on TPN as a temporary measure, until a bowel resection could be done. Following that, a feeding tube was placed. For patients that had an unresectable bowel obstruction, a feeding tube could be placed immediately passed the obstruction. That, of course, depends on the portion of the bowel that was involved, as each part of the bowel performs a different role in digestion. This site explains the different parts of the GI tract and its function: *http://137.222.110.150/calnet/pot171/page3.htm General opinion on tube feedings vs TPN for a long term nutritional route feel that the bowel should be used if at all possible, in an effort to preserve its function. Also, as hard as we try, man cannot mimic God's creation of the human body. TPN should be used whenever there is a need to " rest " the gut. Some philosophize that resting the gut, means bypassing the stomach, not the whole bowel and therefore a TF could be placed in a lower portion of the bowel. I have had patients, however, that have had cancer of the bowel and underwent a complete bowel resection, and relied on parenteral nutrition for life. I did some a search and found a research study done in 2001 on the long term effect of Hyperalimentation. You can read it at:*http://www.wichtig-publisher.com/rinpe/subs/vol19no1/cu3.pdf It concurs that long term use should be the last possible choice for survival. It also shows that, though, liver disease is a serious complication, the incidence is low. This is just data I collected, I don't really understand your medical status enough to comment on it directly. Let us know what happens. I am curious to know what is going on with your obstruction. With Joy & Light, Karyn E. , RN Exec. Director, PAI Indianapolis, IN The PAI serves as a means of support, information, and advocacy. The PAI cannot offer medical advice or direction nor substitute for your health care provider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2003 Report Share Posted June 11, 2003 Hi Amy, It is good to hear from you. Did I understand you right in that you do have a bowel obstruction? Did the doctor say that TPN was your only viable option for nutritional intake? The only experience I have is not personal, but with my patients. Depending on where the obstruction was, they were usually put on TPN as a temporary measure, until a bowel resection could be done. Following that, a feeding tube was placed. For patients that had an unresectable bowel obstruction, a feeding tube could be placed immediately passed the obstruction. That, of course, depends on the portion of the bowel that was involved, as each part of the bowel performs a different role in digestion. This site explains the different parts of the GI tract and its function: *http://137.222.110.150/calnet/pot171/page3.htm General opinion on tube feedings vs TPN for a long term nutritional route feel that the bowel should be used if at all possible, in an effort to preserve its function. Also, as hard as we try, man cannot mimic God's creation of the human body. TPN should be used whenever there is a need to " rest " the gut. Some philosophize that resting the gut, means bypassing the stomach, not the whole bowel and therefore a TF could be placed in a lower portion of the bowel. I have had patients, however, that have had cancer of the bowel and underwent a complete bowel resection, and relied on parenteral nutrition for life. I did some a search and found a research study done in 2001 on the long term effect of Hyperalimentation. You can read it at:*http://www.wichtig-publisher.com/rinpe/subs/vol19no1/cu3.pdf It concurs that long term use should be the last possible choice for survival. It also shows that, though, liver disease is a serious complication, the incidence is low. This is just data I collected, I don't really understand your medical status enough to comment on it directly. Let us know what happens. I am curious to know what is going on with your obstruction. With Joy & Light, Karyn E. , RN Exec. Director, PAI Indianapolis, IN The PAI serves as a means of support, information, and advocacy. The PAI cannot offer medical advice or direction nor substitute for your health care provider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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