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Discussion

Parenteral and Enteral differences

Hi,

I was looking at the definitions for Parenteral and Enteral.

ENTERAL:

"Involving or passing through the intestine, either naturally via the mouth and oesophagus, or through an artificial opening. Often contrasted with [COLOR=#1020d0]parenteral[/COLOR]."

PARENTERAL:

"Administered or occurring elsewhere in the body than the mouth and alimentary canal: Often contrasted with [COLOR=#1020d0]enteral[/COLOR]."

By Enteral's definition including an artificial opening, it makes it a whole like Parenteral since it is occurring elsewhere in the body than the mouth and alimentary canal.

That is confusing.

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    • Featured Replies

    Enteral:Goes thru the gut

    Parenteral: Goes thru some sort of IV line.

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    • Admin

    Enteral means that nutrition is absorbed via the GI tract. Oral intake would be normal eating. However, there are other options: nasogastric tube, PEG tube, G-tube. The nasogastric tube goes through the nasal passage, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. PEG tubes and G tubes are surgical interventions; however, the nutrition is delivered into the GI system.

    Parenteral nutrition means that the nutrition is given through a vessel.

    I think where you are getting confused is that it is not just an "artificial opening" that determines enteral vs. parenteral but whether the patient's GI system for digestion/absorption is utilized.

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    • Author

    Thanks a lot Rose and Bittybaby. That really cleared it up for me!!!

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