Glossary

Accidentally inhaling liquid into the windpipe (trachea) and/or lungs

Large amounts of tube feeds delivered through the tube in a short period of time

Bowel movements (stools) sometimes painful and difficult to pass or no bowel movements at all

Feeding constantly over a period of 20 to 24 hours of time throughout the day and night with only very short interruptions or 4 hours interruption in the early morning

Frequent, loose, watery bowel movements

A small electronic machine, plug-in or battery powered, that automatically controls the amount of formula being delivered through the feeding tube. These pumps have often different programs allowing to install continuous, bolus or intermittent adminstration of tube feeds

Tubing that connects the tube feeding bag to the enteral feeding tube. The feeding set can be either for gravity feeding or for pump assisted feeding (pump set)

Gastrostomy tube. An enteral feeding tube that passes through the skin into the stomach

Backing up or reflux of tube feeds and/or gastric juice from the stomach into the oesophagus. This often results in a burn feeling

The removal of gas or fluid from the stomach, also called “venting”

A surgical opening (stoma) through the skin into the stomach

Fleshy projections formed on the surface of the stoma that will later form fibrous scar tissue

Formula flows into the stomach by gravity. This is most often done with help of a feeding set, whereby the flow is installed with a roller clamp

Feeding certain amounts of tube feeds frequently during the day or night. Intermittent feeding is often done as supplements to the normal feeding and is often done during the night-time

Food such as tube feeds or any substance that nourishes the body – protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water

The passage in the throat through which food passes from the mouth into the stomach

Surgical or endoscopic opening through which a feeding tube can enter the body

Contents of the last feeding remaining in the stomach just before the next feeding is to be given