Critical Medicine and Treatment

When people need artificial hydration and nutrition?
If a patient is unable to swallow (swallow food) due to a medical problem, he or she can be given fluids and nutrients in other ways than through the mouth. This is known as artificial nutrition and hydration.

This is sometimes done when someone is recovering from a temporary problem. It can also be done when someone is in an advanced stage of terminal illness and is dyin.

What are the benefits?
A person with a temporary illness that can not swallow may be hungry and thirsty. A feeding tube can be helpful. Sometimes a person may become confused because of dehydration.

Dehydration is when the body does not get enough fluids. Giving a patient fluids through a tube help with dehydration and may decrease the confusion about him or her. Giving fluids and nutrition helps the patient as he or she is recovering.

For a patient with a terminal illness in advanced stage and that is dying, artificial feeding and hydration can not provide many benefits. Artificial hydration and nutrition in these patients may make the patient live a little longer, but not always.

What are the risks?
Always a risk when someone is fed through a tube. Liquid might enter the lungs. This can cause coughing and pneumonia. Feeding tubes may feel uncomfortable. They can become plugged, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. Feeding tubes may also cause infections. Sometimes patients have to be physically restrained or sedated to keep them from pulling out the tube.

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