II. Defintions
-
Nutritional Support Therapy
- Formulated enteral or Parenteral nutrients given to Restore nutritional status
- Enteral Nutrition
- Gastrointestinal Tract delivery of Nutritional Support
-
Parenteral Nutrition
- Intravenous delivery of Nutritional Support
III. Indications
IV. Contraindications
- Severe gastrointestinal dysfunction (refractory Vomiting, ileus or Bowel Obstruction)
- Hemodynamic instability
- Multisystem organ failure
V. Evaluation
VI. Technique: Enteral Nutrition devices
-
Nasogastric Tube
- Indicated in short-term enteral support (e.g. hospitalized patients)
-
Enterostomy Tube
- Indicated in long-term enteral support
-
Gastrostomy Tube
- Gastric feeding is typically preferred for more physiologic intake and larger volumes
-
Jejunostomy Tube (Post-pyloric feeding) Indications
- Aspiration risk
- Severe Esophagitis
- Gastric dysmotility or gastric obstruction
- Recurrent Emesis
- Pancreatitis
VII. Technique: Feeding Protocols
- Bolus Feedings
- Most closely resembles physiologic intake
- Indicated in non-critically ill patients with intact Gag Reflex and normal gastrointestinal function
- Intermittent Feedings
- Delivered over 20-30 minutes in non-critically ill patients unable to tolerate bolus feedings
- Cyclic Feedings
- Delivered over 8 to 16 hours via feeding pump
- Continuous Feedings
- Delivered over 12-24 hours via feeding pump
VIII. Preparations: Polymeric Formulations (Intact or whole macronutrient formulas)
- Polymeric - Standard
- Isotonic, lactose-free, nutritionally complete formulas
- Indicated for normal Gastrointestinal Tract
- Adult: 1-1.2 kcal/ml
- Boost, Ensure, Isocal, Jevity 1.2, Nutren 1.0, Osmolite
- Child: 1 kcal/ml or 30 kcal/oz
- Boost kid essentials, Pediasure, Nutren Junior
- Polymeric - High Calorie
- Concentrated formulas with significantly higher calories per ml (typically by increasing fat concentration)
- Indicated for fluid restriction (CHF, SIADH) or high calorie requirement (e.g. Trauma)
- Adult: 2 kcal/ml
- Deliver 2.0, Novasource 2.0, Nutren 2.0, Twocal HN
- Child: 1.5 kcal/ml or 45 kcal/oz
- Boost kid essentials 1.5, Resource Just for Kids 1.5
- Polymeric - High Protein
- Indicated for hypercatabolic state or high Protein requirement (e.g. Wound Healing)
- Adult: 1-1.5 kcal/ml with Protein comprising 18-25% of total calories
- Boost high Protein, Ensure plus HN, Isocal HN, Isosource HN, Osolite 1.2 CAL, Replete, Sustacal HC
- Polymeric - With fiber
- Isotonic, typically soy-based fiber of both soluble and insoluble types with 4-22 grams fiber per Liter
- Indicated for prevention of Diarrhea in the short-term, and Constipation in the long-term
- Adult: Ensure with fiber, Fibersource HN, Jevity, Ultracal
- Child: Nutren Junior with fiber, Pediasure with fiber
- Blenderized
- Pureed natural foods
- Indicated for longterm enteral support and intact gastrointestinal function
IX. Preparations: Elemental Formulations
- Oligomeric
- Elemental formula, Proteins with short peptides and free Amino Acids, higher osmolarity and lactose-free
- Provide 1-1.5 kcals/ml
- Indicated for malabsorption syndromes and pancreatic insufficiency
- Disadvantages: Expensive, may worsen Diarrhea
- Adults: Criticare HN, Peptamen, Perative, Subdue, Tolarex, Vital HN, Vivonex TEN, Vivonex Plus
- Child: Peptamen Junior, Vivonex Pediatric
- Modular Formulation
- Indicated for a specific nutrient deficiency or as a component in a multi-formulation plan
- Protein formulations: Beneprotein instant Protein powder, Promod
- Carbohydrate formulations: Moducal, Polycose
- Fat formulations: MCT Oil, Microlipid
- Fiber formulations: Benefiber
X. Preparations: Disease Specific Formulations
- Diabetic Formulation
- Lower Carbohydrate, higher monounsaturated fat, and higher fiber; 1 kcal/ml
- Preparations: Choice DM, Diabetisource, Glucerna, Glytrol
- Immunomodulating Formulation
- Higher Protein, with increased Arginine, Glutamine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and other components
- Provides components thought to improve immune response
- Indicated in ICU patients with major Trauma, burns, or the critically ill on Mechanical Ventilation
- Deliver 1-1.5 kcal/ml
- Preparations: Alitraq, Crucial, Impact
- Pulmonary Formulation
- Low Carbohydrate, high fat, no fiber formulations with 1.5 kcal/ml
- Some contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and antioxidants which may be considered in Acute Lung Injury or ARDS
- Indicated for COPD, Mechanical Ventilation weaning (formulated to reduce carbon dioxide production)
- Preparations: Nutren, Nutrivent, Oxepa, Pulmocare
- Low Carbohydrate, high fat, no fiber formulations with 1.5 kcal/ml
- Renal Formulation
XI. Labs
- Baseline
- Complete Blood Count
- Glucose
- Electrolytes including Magnesium, phosphate, Calcium
- Renal Function tests
- Liver Function Tests including albumin
- Serum Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
- Copper
- Serum Folate
- INR
- Monitoring: Frequency based on clinical status
- Complete Blood Count
- Glucose (several times daily)
- Electrolytes including Magnesium, phosphate, Calcium
- Renal Function tests
- Liver Function Tests including albumin
- Expect 2-3 fold over baseline with 10-14 days TPN
- Monitoring: periodic recheck when on longterm Enteral Nutrition
- Other monitoring
- Gastric residuals every 4 to 6 hours when gastric feeding
- Monitor intake and output
XII. Complications
- See Refeeding Syndrome
-
Aspiration Pneumonia (up to 44% of cases)
- Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees
- Measure gastric residuals periodically and adjust instillation volumes as needed
- Inflate endotracheal cuff if intubated
- Consider postpyloric feeding (Nasoduodenal tube or Jejunostomy)
-
Diarrhea (up to 65% of cases)
- Management
- Evaluate for and treat underlying cause first
- Reduce rate and titrate more slowly
- Add fiber to formulation
- Consider antidiarrheal medication
- Causes
- Sorbitol containing elixirs
- Antibiotics with secondary Clostridium difficile
- Low fiber content
- High fat content
- Bacterial contamination of delivery device
- Hyperosmolar formulation
- Delivery rate too high
- Management
-
Feeding Tube related complications
- See Feeding Tube
- Fluid, Electrolyte, and metabolic abnormalities
- Hyperglycemia
- Vitamin K Deficiency
- Trace element deficiency (zinc, Copper)
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Iron Deficiency
- Hypertonic Dehydration (calorie dense formulations with inadequate fluid intake)
XIII. References
- Bankhead (2009) JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 33(2): 122-67 [PubMed]
- Bristrian (2006) Crit Care Med 34(5): 1525-31 [PubMed]
- Chen (2009) Nutr Clin Pract 24(3): 344-55 [PubMed]
- Koretz (2009) Nutr Clin Pract 24(3): 316-324 [PubMed]
- Kulick (2011) Am Fam Physician 83(2): 173-83 [PubMed]
- Lesser (2021) Am Fam Physician 104(6): 580-8 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
Definition (MSH) | Nutritional support given via the alimentary canal or any route connected to the gastrointestinal system (i.e., the enteral route). This includes oral feeding, sip feeding, and tube feeding using nasogastric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tubes. |
Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
MSH | D004750 |
English | Enteral Nutrition, Nutrition, Enteral, EN - Enteral nutrition, tube feeding, enteral nutrition, nutrition enteral, Enteral nutrition |
French | Nutrition entérale |
Swedish | Sondmatning |
Japanese | ケイチョウエイヨウ, 経管栄養補給, 強制栄養, 高カロリー栄養法-経腸, 経腸栄養補給法, 栄養補給法-経腸, 経管栄養, 経腸高カロリー栄養法, 経腸栄養, 栄養-経腸 |
Czech | enterální výživa, Enterální výživa |
Finnish | Enteraalinen ravitsemus |
Italian | Nutrizione enterale, Alimentazione enterale |
Russian | GIPERALIMENTATSIIA ENTERAL'NAIA, PITANIE ENTERAL'NOE, ENTERAL'NAIA GIPERALIMENTATSIIA, ZONDOVOE PITANIE, ENTERAL'NOE PITANIE, ГИПЕРАЛИМЕНТАЦИЯ ЭНТЕРАЛЬНАЯ, ЗОНДОВОЕ ПИТАНИЕ, ПИТАНИЕ ЭНТЕРАЛЬНОЕ, ЭНТЕРАЛЬНАЯ ГИПЕРАЛИМЕНТАЦИЯ, ЭНТЕРАЛЬНОЕ ПИТАНИЕ |
Croatian | PREHRANA, ENTERALNA |
Polish | Żywienie przez zgłębnik, Żywienie dojelitowe, Żywienie dożołądkowe |
Hungarian | Enterális táplálás |
Norwegian | Enteral ernæring, Sondeernæring |
Portuguese | Nutrição entérica, Nutrição Enteral |
Spanish | Nutrición enteral, Nutrición Enteral |
Dutch | enterale voeding, Nutritie, enterale, Voeding, enterale |
German | enterale Ernaehrung, Enterale Ernährung, Ernährung, enterale |
Ontology: Dietary Supplementation (C0242297)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | Adding nutrients to the diet. |
Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
MSH | D019587 |
English | Supplementations, Dietary, dietary supplementation, Supplementation, Nutritional Supplementation, Nutritional supplementation, Nutritional supplement, supplementation, Dietary Supplementations, Dietary Supplementation, nutritional supplementation |
Portuguese | Suplementação Dietética, Suplementação nutricional, Suplemento nutricional |
Spanish | Suplementación Dietética, Aportación nutricional suplementaria, Suplemento nutricional |
German | Nahrungsergänzung, Nahrungsergaenzung, Nahrungsergaenzungsmittel |
French | Supplémentation nutritionnelle, Supplément nutritionnel, Supplément nutritif |
Czech | dietní suplementace, doplňování stravy o chybějící mikroelementy, Nutriční suplementace, Nutriční doplněk |
Dutch | aanvulling met voedingssupplementen, voedingssupplement |
Hungarian | Táplálékkiegészítés, Táplálékkiegészítő |
Italian | Integratori alimentari, Supplemento nutrizionale |
Japanese | 栄養補給, エイヨウホキュウ, エイヨウホジョ, 栄養補助 |