The key difference between TPN and tube feeding is that total parenteral nutrition or TPN refers to the supply of all daily nutrition directly into the bloodstream, while tube feeding refers to the supply of nutrition through a tube that goes directly to the stomach or small intestine.
When a person is at risk of malnutrition, or has trouble in getting daily nutritional requirements, there are two methods of supplying nutrients: enteral feeding and parenteral feeding. Parenteral feeding is a way of supplying nutrients directly into the bloodstream through a vein. Total parenteral feeding (TPN) is one of the two types of parenteral feeding in which all daily nutrients are supplied through a large vein. Enteral feeding or tube feeding is done when a person is not in a condition to eat a regular diet through his mouth, but his GI tract functions normally. In this method, the supply of nutrients takes place directly into the stomach or small intestine via a tube.
