How Long Can My Grandmother Survive Without Feed Tube On Glucose Drip?

Posted on Tue, 24 May 2011

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 24 May 2011 Answered on

Mon, 21 May 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : my grandmothers peg feeding tube fell out six days ago and the doctors haven't replaced it. how long can she last without her feed and only on a glucose drip?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (2 hours later)

Hello.

Thanks for your query.

If your grand mother's feeding tube fell off and she is only on intravenous fluids even then there is no problem in her survival as all the nutrients and the required calories to run the body are infused using different kinds of fluids.

It is not necessary that she has to take orally by tube in order to survive.
You see the comatose patients do survive for months just on these fluids.

Hope I have answered your query. I will be available if you have any further queries.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar