Clinics aspects in children and youth patients in home enteral nutrition: an integrative review

Abstract

Home Enteral Nutrition is an effective method to ensure the nutritional compliance of an individual at home. The aim of this study was investigate the clinical aspects commonly recurrent in children and youth patients in home enteral nutrition. Research of articles was carried out through the databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciElo) and US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) using the following keywords: 'home enteral nutrition', 'home tube feeding' and ‘children'. Sixteen studies were selected in countries as Brazil, Spain, France, Netherlands, Italy, Poland and Monte Sinai, in which it was presented evidence that the main clinical conditions related to enteral nutritional therapy are neurological diseases, neoplasia in general and the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract diseases. Only two studies had reported the negative aspects of home therapy as episodes of gagging, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Thus, through the clinical conditions reported, it is observed that the indication of home enteral nutrition is essential for these patients, which can prevent them from hospital malnutrition, decrease length of stay, rehospitalizations and reduce hospital costs, as well as bring greater comfort to patients by being closer to their family.

Keywords:
Nutritional therapy; Enteral nutrition; House calls; Children and youth; Child health