More than one-third of patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN) returned to eating solid foods in 16 months or less, according to a Walgreens Infusion Services study being presented at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Clinical Nutrition Week meeting in Orlando, Fla.
EN treatment involves patients receiving food through a tube placed directly into the stomach or small intestine. The Walgreens research suggests a significant number of patients can safely return to an oral diet.
The study included 123 patients with cancer, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal problems or stroke who were receiving EN provided by Walgreens Infusion Services at home. The largest percentage of patients (37.5 percent) safely returned to an oral diet within 16 months, while 13.8 percent remained on therapy for 18 months or longer.
Walgreens Infusion Services are provided by clinicians, including more than 1,400 infusion nurses, infusion pharmacists and registered dietitians.
For more information, go to www.walgreens.com.
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