Why it's done

You may have home enteral nutrition, or tube feeding, if you can’t eat enough to get the nutrients you need. A doctor may recommend it if you have head or neck cancer, if cancer treatment makes it hard or painful to swallow, or if you have a brain and spinal cord problem such as stroke or ALS. Digestive tract issues and damage are other reasons for home enteral nutrition.

Types of feeding tubes

Feeding tubes deliver liquid nutrition directly to your stomach or small intestine. Options may include:

• Feeding tube passed through the nose. If you'll need a feeding tube for a month or less, your doctor may recommend inserting a tube through your nose and into your stomach (nasogastric tube) or your small intestine (nasojejunal tube).
• Feeding tube passed through the skin on your abdomen. If you'll need longer term tube feeding, your doctor may recommend a procedure to place a tube through the skin on your abdomen and into your stomach (gastrostomy) or into your small intestine (jejunostomy).

Which tube is best for you will depend on your situation. Discuss your options with your health care provider.