Which patient might require feeding by gavage to reduce cardiac demand?

An infant with congestive heart failure may require feeding by gavage to reduce cardiac demand due to the increased work that feeding can impose on the heart. In congestive heart failure, the heart struggles to pump effectively, which can lead to fatigue and reduced ability to take in adequate nutrition orally. Feeding, especially with the effort involved in sucking and swallowing, can increase metabolic demands and strain the heart further.

Gavage feeding, which involves delivering nutrition directly to the stomach through a tube, minimizes energy expenditure by eliminating the physical effort needed for oral feeding. This approach helps ensure that the infant receives the necessary nutrition without exacerbating their heart condition. It allows for a more controlled way of feeding that aligns with the goals of managing heart failure, which primarily focus on minimizing stress and ensuring stable nutritional intake.

In comparison, while other conditions presented might require careful management or monitoring, they do not typically necessitate the same level of intervention regarding feeding due to the acute strain that cardiac workload would impose.