We have received a few patients from the Comfort who have head injuries. As a result of this they aren't able to eat on their own, so they had PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tubes placed. These tubes are placed through the abdominal wall directly into the stomach for patients who will need long-term tube feedings.
This is where my clinical experience as a dietitian has been coming in handy. We have limited access to the formulas that we need to put through the tubes to feed the patient. In the US and Canada, they are very expensive, and in Haiti they are difficult to find. A few cases were sent with the patients, but we will run out soon.
I've been working on a recipe that we can use to feed them. It will involve a pureed bouyon (soup) that we already make in our kitchen, fortified with soy protein, sugar and oil to give it more calories and protein. The nurses will give the patient this mixture through their tube 5-6 times a day when we run out of the commercial formula.
There are a few reasons why pureed food is no longer put through feeding tubes in the developed world, but here we need to make do with what we have. We will be careful with the food preparation and the liquid consistency, and the nurses will make sure that the tubes get flushed well with water to prevent them from clogging.
[2 comments]
Hi Ellen
You are doin such good work atFDB I look forward to reading your blogs.
Give Betsy a big hug I am sure she will be a big help--and good company for you
Barbara
By Barbara Loftus on March 05 2010, 8:17pm
Ellen
Every morning I check your blog. I hope you realize how you have touched so many hearts. Thank you for all your doing. We are praying for you and all the staff along with the Haitian people.
By Fr Dick DeVeer on February 28 2010, 12:04pm
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