Your patient has peritonitis from a ruptured bowel. What is the most common way to provide him nutrition?

In the case of a patient with peritonitis resulting from a ruptured bowel, providing nutrition safely and effectively is crucial. Parenteral nutrition is the most appropriate method in this situation because it delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract entirely. This is critical in patients who cannot tolerate oral or enteral feeding due to their condition, as their bowel is compromised and cannot effectively digest or absorb nutrients.

Oral feeding is not suitable because the patient's gastrointestinal system is not functioning properly, increasing the risk of further complications. Enteral feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube also poses risks in this scenario, as it relies on the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract, which is disrupted with a ruptured bowel. Lastly, offering a high-protein snack does not suffice as a viable nutritional strategy, particularly under these critical circumstances where sustained and controlled nutrition is necessary to support recovery while avoiding further gastrointestinal stress. Thus, parenteral nutrition is the safest and most effective way to provide the necessary nutrients in this case.