Whether gastrostomy tube feeding or another type of feeding tube is prescribed, enteral feeding is a temporary solution. People can survive on a feeding tube for months to several years, but it is not something that can be sustained long-term. This is simply because nutrition alone is not going to keep a patient alive. If they are suffering from an ailment, enteral feeding may help them live more comfortably but it will not stop the disease from degenerating. This is a temporary form of patient care designed to keep the recipient alive until they either succumb to their illnesses or recover from their illnesses and regain normal eating functionality.