“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
― Ann Wigmore
Introduction to Parenteral and Enteral Feeding
In many countries, all over the world, there are people who are affected by diseases which can prevent a patient form eating orally or absorbing nutrients sufficiently. Such illnesses can affect any part of the digestive system, including the mouth.
When a person is unable to eat or absorb nutrients sufficiently, then fluid and nutrients can be given through Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition which is a life saving measure in the management of such patients.
Parenteral feeding involves administration of nutrients intravenously. Whereas enteral feeding involves a tube that passes through the nose or mouth directly into the stomach.
Home Parenteral Nutrition
Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) can be used as the sole source of nutrition or to supplement oral feeding should the patient be able to manage a little food and drink, but not enough to ensure adequate nutrition.
Nutritionists should consider HPN for patients who are at the greatest risk of malnourishment. This is to ensure that all the essential nutrients are present in the diet.
Administration of Parenteral Nutrition
Administration of Parenteral or Enteral nutrition is expensive and is often associated with a deterioration in the disease being treated.
It is therefore imperative to involve clinical expertise in administering HPEN. A dietician, pharmacist, nurse and clinician should be involved in the process. In addition, medics should also regularly examine and test patients. This is to ensure that HPEN is providing adequate nutrition and has a positive impact on their quality of life.
Other Information about Parenteral Nutrition
This site will be looking at some of the issues related to Home Parenteral Enteral Nutrition.
We will take a look at some of the issues that surround going out and about when you have Home Parenteral or Enteral feeding (HPN) ~ the challenges and the practicalities.
Follow the link for some information on pregnancy and motherhood whilst on HPN because, yes, this happens to all age groups.
There are some practical tips too such as the MedicAlert Foundation, advice on governmental benefits and organizations that can help with Medical needs.
There is a lot of information, support and help out there people, you don’t have to suffer in silence!
About me
History of the Site
CPENA: Canadian Parenteral Enteral Nutrition Association
CPENA is a national, independent, non-profit organization. This organization promotes support and dialogue among consumers of home parenteral and enteral nutrition. In addition, help and information is also available to users families, as well as health service professional in this field.
The association is not affiliated with any hospital or other agency, but does have links with similar organizations outside Canada particularly The Oley Foundation based in Albany, New York.
The association’s objectives are to enhance the quality of life of patients requiring home parenteral or enteral nutritional support.
CPENA facilitate contact and interaction amongst patients and their families. Furthermore, CPENA promotes awareness of home Parenteral Enteral Nutrition (PEN) issues to foster better understanding of individual needs.
These objectives are based on the understanding that effective support of home PEN consumers depends on the collaboration and cooperation of all members of the home PEN community – physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, home care professionals, suppliers, and public policy makers.
Activities
- The Penline newsletter:: This is the focal point of the association’s national communication network and contains articles of particular interest to the Home Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (HPEN) community.
- Information: The Association provides information for homePEN consumers, family members, and healthcare providers and maintains communication with other support groups who share common goals, both within and outside of Canada.
- Conferences: The association holds conferences within Canada that discuss and examine all aspects of Parenteral Enteral Nutrition.