Enteral feeding techniques

Major technical advances in enteral nutrition include the use of erythromycin or magnetic guidance for the placement of the feeding tube into the duodenum, the development of new enteral tubes, and bedside methods to control the tube position. Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy is becoming a safe procedure with a high success rate. Specialized diets offer little or no clinical advantages when compared with standard polymeric diets.     

Enteral feeding in the hypoalbuminemic patient

Previous studies have correlated intolerance of isotonic, intact protein enteral solutions with hypoalbuminemia. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether the level of serum albumin (SA) influenced tolerance of such an enteral nutrient solution (ENS). All patients who received Entrition during 1987 for a minimum of 48 hr were studied for the first 10 days of enteral feeding. Documentation included SA, medications, stool frequency, gastric residuals (GR), and daily caloric intake. ENS intolerance was defined as greater than 3 stools/day for greater than 48 hr or GR greater than twice the hourly infusion rate for greater than 48 hr. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with SA greater than or equal to 2.5 g/dl (group I) and those with SA less than 2.5 g/dl (group II). Of 88 patients studied, 48 (86%) in group I and 28 (88%) in group II tolerated the ENS. Eight (14%) in group I and 4 (12%) in group II experienced ENS intolerance. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of ENS intolerance between these two groups (p less than 0.05). Also, 97% of all those with a SA less than 2.5 g/dl were fed 80% or more of their estimated caloric requirements. We concluded that ENS tolerance was not affected by the SA level and patients with hypoalbuminemia (SA less than 2.5 g/dl) could be fed enterally.     

Enteral feeding in inflammatory bowel disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Treatment algorithms for inflammatory bowel disease are changing rapidly. Increased and earlier use of immunomodulatory drugs and availability of biologic agents have reduced dependence on corticosteroids and made mucosal healing a realistic goal. It is timely to debate the role of enteral nutrition in this evolving therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn's disease, and to examine the mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory effects in light of current understanding of disease pathogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS: Clinical studies have suggested that response to enteral nutrition is associated with decreased mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease, that isolated Crohn's colitis is less responsive and that exclusive enteral nutrition is required. Basic research has demonstrated that lipids in the intestinal lumen can alter signalling of the mucosal immune system by intestinal epithelial cells. Exclusive enteral nutrition is associated with alteration of enteric microflora. SUMMARY: Enteral nutrition is an efficacious treatment of active inflammation involving the ileum; recent-onset disease may be particularly responsive. The significance of effects on enteric flora deserves further exploration in view of the importance of microbes to disease pathogenesis.     

Enteral feeding patients with gastric outlet obstruction

Patients with upper gastrointestinal obstructions were previously managed with gastric decompression and parenteral feeding. The authors present their experience in 50 patients with obstructions chiefly due to complicated severe acute (n = 31) or chronic cystic pancreatitis (n = 11) using a double-lumen nasogastric decompression and jejunal feeding tube system (NGJ) held in place with a nasal bridle that passes through the obstructed gastroduodenal segments, allowing distal jejunal feeding, and at the same time decompresses the stomach to prevent vomiting and aspiration. The tip of the jejunal tube was placed approximately 40 cm down the jejunum to maintain pancreatic rest. Duration of feeding ranged from 1-145 days (median 25 days); 19 patients were discharged home with tube feeds. Only 1 patient could not tolerate feeding and needed to be converted to parenteral feeding. Average tube life was 14 days, with replacement being needed most commonly for kinking or clogging of the jejunal tube (56%) or accidental dislodgement (24%). The obstruction resolved spontaneously in 60%, allowing resumption of normal eating. Of the patients with severe acute pancreatitis or pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic rest resulted in resolution of the disease without surgery in 87%, and need for surgery in the remainder was put off for 31-76 days. Seven patients died predominantly of complications of acute pancreatitis between 1 and 31 days. In conclusion, NGJ feeding provides a relatively safe conservative management for critically ill patients with upper gastrointestinal obstructions, reducing the need for surgery and parenteral feeding.     

Enteral feeding: drug/nutrient interaction

Enteral nutrition support via a feeding tube is the first choice for artificial nutrition. Most patients also require simultaneous drug therapy, with the potential risk for drug-nutrient interactions which may become relevant in clinical practice. During enteral nutrition, drug-nutrient interactions are more likely to occur than in patients fed orally. However, there is a lack of awareness about its clinical significance, which should be recognised and prevented in order to optimise nutritional and pharmacological therapeutic goals of safety and efficacy.Learning objectives:To raise the awareness of potential drug-nutrient interactions and influence on clinical outcomes.To identify factors that can promote drug-nutrient interactions and contribute to nutrition and/or therapeutic failure.To be aware of different types of drug-nutrient interactions.To understand complex underlying mechanisms responsible for drug-nutrient interactions.To learn basic rules for the administration of medications during tube-feeding.     

Enteral feeding contamination: comparison of diluents and feeding bag usage

This quasi-experimental study compared bacterial growth in enteral feeding solution in six Kangaroo feeding bags filled with enteral formula diluted with sterile water vs six of the same diluted with tap water. Feeding bags, which were on continuous pumps in patient-occupied rooms, were rinsed and refilled every 8 hours, and formula cultures were obtained at 0, 24, and 48 hr. Acceptability of cultures was based on published recommended standards. Low levels of nonpathogenic staphylococci were found in sterile water bags; high levels of bacilli and Gram negative rods were found in tap water bags. No significant differences were found in the relationship between type of formula diluent and outcomes. Type of water diluent and acceptability were not related. There was a systematic relationship between length of use and outcome; with both diluents, bags used over 24 hr became unacceptably contaminated. Further study with a larger sample is needed to determine the effects of using tap water rather than sterile water as diluent.     

Enteral feeding misconnections: a consortium position statement

A consortium of organization identified solutions to the problem of enteral feeding misconnections in three areas: (1) education, awareness, and human factors; (2) purchasing strategies; and (3) design changes.     

Enteral feeding and infection in the immunocompromised patient

Evidence is accumulating that immunocompromised individuals are at an increased risk of infection from foodborne pathogens including Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. Normal bacterial flora and contaminants of foods and enteral feeds can also result in nosocomial infection in susceptible individuals. Safe food handling, low-microbial diets, and measures to reduce bacterial contamination of enteral foods can reduce exposure to potential pathogens in the food supply.     

Enteral feeding: the art and the science.

Enteral feeding (TEN) is the preferred method for hospitalized patients requiring nutrition support. However, real and perceived barriers to implementation exist, with gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance being the most common. The purpose of this article is to identify common GI obstacles to effective TEN and to review current practices of TEN delivery and evidence to support such practices. The article reviews the GI anatomy and physiology that affect TEN practices and also identifies related evidence on the most common GI barriers limiting effective TEN delivery. Suggested solutions are provided.     

Enteral tube feeding in a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Malnutrition affects up to half of all chronic dialysis patients and is an important predictor of mortality, but the efficacy of interventions designed to improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients has been poorly studied. Specifically, although enteral tube feeding is often cited as an important option in the treatment of malnourished dialysis patients, there are few studies examining the effectiveness and complications of enteral tube feedings in adults on dialysis. We performed a retrospective analysis of a small cohort (n = 10) of chronic hemodialysis patients who received enteral tube feeding as all or part of their nutrition between January 1 and May 1, 1999, with follow-up through May 1, 2000, to assess the efficacy and complications of enteral tube feeding. Six patients received feeding via a peritoneoscopically placed (PEG) tube, 3 via nasogastric (NG) tube, and 1 patient was switched from PEG to NG feeding after an exit site infection developed at her PEG site. Seven patients received enteral feeding because of swallowing difficulties occurring after a cerebrovascular accident. Four patients were fed via enteral tube temporarily (相似文献   

Enteral feeding tube guidewire—another factor in the retrograde contamination of enteral feeding systems?

Background: In vitro enteral feeding systems were used to investigate the effect that withdrawal of the guidewire from the feeding tube has on bacteria ascending from a patients’ stomach or intestine via the feeding tube to the giving set and nutrient container of the feeding system. Methods: Enteral feeding systems were assembled with the feeding tube running into nutrient broth contaminated with Klebsiella aerogenes. The enteral feeding tubes were held in different orientations (horizontal and vertical) to examine the effect in both prostrate and ambulant patients. The guidewire was removed either prior to or after the enteral feeding tube had been inserted into the K. aerogenes broth. Feed was then run through the systems for 24 h, with feed samples being collected from the distal (patient) end of the giving set at 0 and 24 h. Results: After 24 h, 10^3–108 c.f.u. (colony forming units) K. aerogenes/ml were detected in feed samples taken from the distal end of the giving set in systems where the guidewire had been removed after the enteral feeding tube had been inserted into the contaminated broth (both orientations), but K. aerogenes was not detected in samples from systems in which the guidewire had been removed before the end of the tube was inserted into the broth (both orientations). However, when the latter feed samples were enriched (i.e. incubated at 37 °C for a further 24 h to detect if very low levels of bacteria were present in the original sample), 40% of samples from systems with horizontally orientated tubes, and 20% from systems with vertically orientated tubes were positive for the test organism. K. aerogenes was not detected in any samples of feed taken from the nutrient container or just below the drip chamber. Conclusion: The results demonstrate: (i) that bacteria ascend the feeding tube over a 24-h period (retrograde contamination) and (ii) removal of the guidewire can contribute to the colonization of the lumen of the feeding tube and distal end of the giving set with bacteria from a patients’ own flora.     

B超检测胃动力指导危重症病人肠内营养的应用

目的:探讨改良B超胃窦单切面法检测胃窦运动指数(MI)在危重症病人早期肠内营养(EEN)中的作用. 方法:将62例拟行经鼻胃管喂养的病人随机分为研究组和对照组,每组31例.研究组病人每天应用B超行胃窦单切面法测定空腹MI,以确定当天EN计划;对照组则由主管医师根据自己的经验制订.EN期间,根据病人胃残余量和耐受性调整EN的速度,比较两组病人的一般情况、EN实施情况和相关终点指标. 结果:研究组病人EN起始速度明显高于对照组(40 ～75 ml/h vs 30 ～50 ml/h,P=0.04);达到最大喂养速度的时间也有下降趋势(4.0 h vs 9.3 h);研究组病人超过一种以上EN并发症的发生率(37.9％)明显低于对照组(62.1％),两组的终点指标无明显差异. 结论:应用改良B超胃窦单切面法测定MI可以较客观地确定EN喂养速度,有助于及早实现喂养目标和降低EN相关的并发症.     

重症急性胰腺炎空肠营养支持治疗中肠道不耐受的防治

目的:探讨重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)病人肠内营养(EN)支持治疗中肠道不耐受的原因和防治方法。方法:回顾研究128例SAP病人行EN支持治疗出现的肠道不耐受现象。结果:使用肠内输液泵、一次性EN输注器和加热器的病人78例,5例出现肠道不耐受;未使用输注系统50例,10例出现肠道不耐受。后者肠道不耐受发生率显著高于前者。15例肠道不耐受病人中,4例改用空肠输注系统后,肠道不耐受症状消失。2例降低滴注营养液浓度后,肠道不耐受症状消失。9例病人转为手术治疗,术中发现8例伴小肠充血水肿,1例小肠部分缺血坏死。8例病人出现胰周感染,术后8例可耐受EN支持治疗。结论:在使用EN支持治疗时,常规使用空肠滴注泵、一次性EN输注器和加热器,可防治SAP病人营养支持治疗中出现的肠道不耐受症状。