Prolonged nasogastric tube feeding in critically ill and surgical patients

Abstract

Fifteen patients with varying diagnoses were fed via nasogastric tubes for between 7 and 41 days using a feed consisting of Caloreen (a glucose polymer) and Albumaid (a beef serum hydrolysate) with vitamin and mineral supplements. The feed proved nutritionally adequate and relatively free of complications. Diarrhoea was seen only in those patients receiving antibiotics by the nasogastric route. Codeine phosphate abolished this symptom in all patients. The constant drip method of administration proved efficient and time saving. Unlike prepacked preparations, the feed could be varied in composition to suit the clinical situation. This was of particular advantage in the intensive care context. The feed was relatively inexpensive.

Guidelines for enteral feeding in adult hospital patients

“…Hypernatraemia can also occur and is usually due to excess water loss or transient diabetes insipidus in neurosurgical patients. 97 Between 10% and 30% of tube fed patients are hyperglycaemic 96 and may need oral antidiabetic agents or insulin, before and during feeding. Rebound hypoglycaemia may also occur in tube fed patients if feeding is stopped abruptly, especially if they are on antidiabetic therapy.…”

Enteral feeding. Nasogastric, nasojejunal, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or jejunostomy: its indications and limitations

“…46 Patients receiving artificial support should be monitored closely as a result, and because of the risk of developing refeeding syndrome. 2 Generally haematological and biochemical parameters should be measured before introducing nutritional support.…”

Alterations in fluid, electrolytes and other serum chemistry values and their relations with enteral tube feeding in acute brain infarction patients

“…(1981) reported that all incidences of hypernatraemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia could have arisen as complications of enteral tube feeding in various patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA), organic brain syndrome, cancer, infectious disease, respiratory failure, trauma, renal insufficiency, Hodgkins’ lymphomas, drug overdose, or hip fracture. On the contrary, Woolfson et al. (1976) concluded that none of these complications was attributable to enteral tube feeding in patients with mouth surgery, crushed chest, head injury, postoperative collapse, or respiratory failure.…”