Which of the following are considered nutritional approaches in MDS?

• A. Parenteral/IV feeding
• B. Feeding tube (nasogastric or PEG)
• C. Mechanically altered diet
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

In nutrition management for MDS, you use a range of support strategies to meet energy and protein needs while keeping swallowing and gut function safe. Parenteral nutrition delivers nutrients straight into the bloodstream when the gut can’t be used or rapid support is needed; it’s chosen when enteral feeding isn’t possible or appropriate. Enteral feeding via a tube, such as a nasogastric tube or a PEG, preserves gut function and is preferred when the patient can tolerate it and will need nutrition beyond what they can orally take. A mechanically altered diet changes the texture of foods to make swallowing safer and easier, reducing choking or aspiration risk and helping people eat more comfortably if swallowing difficulties are present. Together, these approaches represent the nutritional support options used in MDS, applied based on swallowing ability, GI tract function, prognosis, and the patient’s goals of care.