ASPECTOS COMPARATIVOS ENTRE AS TÉCNICAS DE ALIMENTAÇÃO ENTERAL: INTUBAÇÃO NASOESOFAGIANA E ESOFAGOSTOMIA EM FELINOS DOMÉSTICOS (Felis domestica)

Abstract

Eight domestic felines (Felis domestica), males, adults, healthy, without a defined breed, with variable weights and ages, were randomly divided into two groups of four animals and submitted to the enteral feeding techniques: nasoesophageal intubation and esophagostomy, aiming to compare clinically and surgically both techniques. The average time required for the nasoesophageal intubation (1min 15sec) was significantly smaller than for the esophagostomy (5min 25sec) according to Fisher¿s test. In the nasoesophageal intubation technique, an easiness in the positioning of the feeding tube was observed when compared to the esophagostomy technique, being accomplished only with local topical anesthetics. All the animals submitted to the nasoesophageal intubation technique presented sneezes and uneasiness during the feeding supply, compared to those submitted to the esophagostomy technique. Conclusions were that the nasoesophageal intubation technique allows smaller surgical and, consequently, anesthetic time; it is less traumatic; the animals submitted to the esophagostomy technique have accepted the tube better; the techniques are easily accomplished and allow the nutritional maintenance of the animals.