A 75-year-old woman with advanced dementia, recurrent aspirations and poor functional status is admitted with pneumonia. Her family asks about feeding...

Question

A 75-year-old woman with advanced dementia, recurrent aspirations and poor functional status is admitted with pneumonia. Her family asks about feeding tube placement to "prevent future pneumonias". According to Canadian geriatric and palliative care principles, what is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Explain that feeding tubes do not prevent aspiration pneumonia in advanced dementia and discuss goals of care, focusing on comfort feeding by hand

Answer

Recommend PEG tube because it clearly prevents aspiration

Answer

Refuse to discuss the question

Answer

Insert NG tube immediately

Answer

Start TPN via central line

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Feeding tube decisions in advanced dementia