Overview of enteral and parenteral feeding access techniques: principles and practice.

The importance of adequate nutrition has long been established in the surgical patient population. Enteral nutrition provides the safest, most cost-effective approach with endoscopic and surgical options for permanent access. Parenteral nutrition should be reserved for patients in whom enteral nutrition is contradicted. This article summarizes the routes of access for both enteral and parenteral nutrition as well as the indications, procedural pearls, and complications associated with each approach.