Long Term Use of EEN and Studies??

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Does anyone know of studies done on the effects of long term (we're talking years) use of EEN?

Has anyone heard of children, for whatever disease they have, being kept on EEN permanently?


Thanks:hug:
 
I read about twin Australian boys with some sort bowel problem who had never eaten the boys are now 12.
 
Yes there are a few children on either enteral nutritiona or parenteral nutrition their whole lives. Usually this is due to serious nutritional defects/deficiencies or due to short bowel - usually because of intestinal necrosis in premature babies.

There have been some studies of this population that are mostly focused on problems.

I'm unsure what exactly you want to know but rather than give you links to studies that talk about the number of children who died (since that is unlikely to apply to your situation but rather to the others that I mentioned) I'll give you a link to the Oley Foundation website Patient Profile page in case one of those folks has been on EN since childhood.

http://www.oley.org/oley_profiles.html
 
I'm simply looking for any info on long-term possible problems/complications from the use of EEN.


Thanks for the links.
 
Would you supplement with any foods or would it be strictly EEN?

I have a good friend who's son was born with a digestive abnormality and was tube fed for years before his issue was corrected through surgery. The hardest part was re-introducing foods to his diet. They saw a therapist several days a week to help him with this. It was a very long process. It was not only a physical issue but emotional and psychological too.
 
What I know is that there can be problems with erosion of the esophagus from long term use of an NG tube. That's why so many kids who need supplementation or EEN have a mickey button directly into the stomach. Or so I was told by a mom with 3 kids on tube feeding supplementation.

I believe there is also some debate about whether you can really get a 100% nutritionally complete formula and that may cause issues long term. But I don't know specifics.

I suggest you talk with a dietician about your concerns. She/he is much more likely to know or be able to find out the answers.
 

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