How is tube feeding different from intravenous therapy (IV)?
Intravenous nutrition therapy, called hyperalimentation, provides total nutritional needs directly into the bloodstream by way of an IV tube put into a large vein. This type of therapy is usually used for a shorter time than tube feeding and bypasses the person’s digestive system. For long-term therapy, enteral tube feeding uses the person’s digestive system to absorb the nutrients in a more normal manner. Each type of therapy is used in different situations.
