A nocturnal nasogastric feeding programme in cystic fibrosis adults

Fourteen adult patients (mean age 22.5 years, range 18–35) with cystic fibrosis undertook nocturnal nasogastric feeding for a mean period of 14.7 (range 6–18) months consuming an average of 1042 ml of a high energy feed on five nights of each week. Following this protocol all patients gained weight (mean weight gain 5.4 kg, range 2–17). For the group as a whole, lung function remained stable during the period of feeding; however a significant correlation between improvement in lung function and weight gain was demonstrated. Hyperglycaemia during feeding in this adult population was common (9/14, 64%) but was easily controlled with insulin therapy.