What is the primary reason for using enteral feeding via nasogastric tube or PEG in chronic dysphagia?

• A. To prevent malnutrition and dehydration; may use oral supplementation, nasogastric tube or PEG as needed
• B. To detoxify the liver
• C. To cure cancer
• D. To replace oral meals completely in all cases

Answer: (A)

When swallowing is chronically impaired, the main risk is not getting enough calories and fluids, so giving nutrients directly into the gut preserves nutrition and prevents dehydration. A nasogastric tube offers short-term support, while a PEG provides long-term access, bypassing the swallowed phase to ensure reliable delivery of calories and hydration. This approach is about maintaining nutritional status, not detoxifying the liver, curing cancer, or replacing all oral meals in every case (many patients can still take some oral intake).