Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition
Enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition (PE) refers to the intake of food by people who cannot, are not allowed to, or do not want to take in sufficient food due to illness. Medical aids are used to prevent malnutrition.
The term enteral nutrition means the artificial feeding and intake of food through the gastrointestinal tract without the natural use of the mouth and throat. Enteral nutrition includes both sip feeds and tube feeds.
In contrast, parenteral nutrition bypasses the digestive tract entirely, in which nutrients are delivered directly into the bloodstream via an infusion.
In the medical devices sector, both enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition represent interesting market segments because they include both medical devices and consumables. In addition, enteral and parenteral nutrition are dynamic and growing markets.
sananet consultancy can support you on the introduction of medical products into this market.
Market Segments of Enteral Nutrition
The health care segments in which enteral nutrition care is found are intensive care and normal care in hospitals, nursing homes and care services, and the home care sector.
Indication Areas of Enteral Nutrition in the Home Care Sector
Enteral nutrition is used in nursing and home care settings for cancer, dysphagia, and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.
Differentiation between Sip and Tube Feeds in Enteral Nutrition
Medical devices for enteral nutrition in liquid form are required when adequate nutrition with normal food is no longer possible. A distinction is made between sip and tube feeds. Tube feeding is of particular interest for medical technology.
Parenteral Nutrition
In parenteral nutrition, nutrients are supplied via venous access using a catheter approved as a medical device.
Enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition are complementary methods. When enteral nutrition therapy is not possible or is no longer sufficient, parenteral nutrition therapy is indicated.
ESPEN Guidelines
The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) published systematic guidelines for artificial nutrition in 2009.
Medical devices for tube feeding in enteral nutrition.
There are different types of feeding tubes or gastric tubes. For inpatient treatment, a transnasal feeding tube (nasal tube) is often used. The length of stay is limited to 2-3 weeks.
If enteral feeding is required for longer, a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) is often used. The PEG is a special gastric tube that is placed through the abdominal wall directly into the stomach. It is a comparatively simple way of supplying patients with sufficient food and fluids via a PEG tube.
The tube feed is delivered to the gastrointestinal tract by gravity or with the aid of a feeding pump.
Medical Devices for Enteral Nutrition
An important medical device for enteral feeding is the feeding pump. Feeding pumps can accurately dose and control the administration of tube feedings. Application with a feeding pump is indicated whenever tube feedings are to be administered continuously. Some nutrition pumps can administer tube feeds both continuously and by bolus.
A feeding pump is particularly indicated when enteral feeding is continuous, for example, in a patient whose feeding tube passes through the nose or abdominal wall directly into the small intestine (nasointestinal or nasojejunal tube, percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy). Otherwise, tube feeds can be administered in portions via gravity systems or in bolus deliveries.
The Market for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition in Germany
In Germany, this form of nutrition is increasing more and more, which is partly due to demographic developments. According to data, approximately 140,000 PEG systems are used annually in Germany. Whereby it concerns with approximately 70% around home inhabitants.
Another interesting information is that more than 70% of tube users are women and only 30% men, whereby men are more often PEG tube users already at the age of less than 60 years and with women the frequency increases only starting from the 70th year of life.
Malnutrition is a common complication in cancer patients, affecting up to 85% of patients in some cancers.
Due to congenital intestinal defects, about 200-250 children in Germany need temporary or permanent home parenteral care every year. We estimate that a total of 5,000 to 6,000 patients in Germany receive home parenteral nutrition.
The daily therapy costs of a parenteral infusion vary greatly and are approximately between 100 and 500 euros.
sananets Consulting in the Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Market
As a healthcare consulting firm, sananet is knowledgeable in many different areas of medical technology and can help your company conduct an appropriate market analysis for the enteral and parenteral nutrition market. We also help with sales development for enteral and parenteral nutrition medical devices.
