A
feeding tube is a medical device used to provide nutrition to patients who cannot obtain nutrition by mouth, are unable to swallow safely, or need nutritional supplementation. The state of being fed by a feeding tube is called
gavage,
enteral feeding or
tube feeding. Placement may be temporary for the treatment of acute conditions or lifelong in the case of chronic disabilities. A variety of feeding tubes are used in medical practice. They are usually made of
polyurethane or silicone. The diameter of a feeding tube is measured in
French units (each French unit equals 0.33 millimeters). They are classified by site of insertion and intended use.