Administration of Enteral Tube Feedings

Question 1

What is the indications of the Continous Method?

Answer 1

• Patients who
  have not
  eaten for a
  significant
  period
• debilitated
  patients
• impaired GI
  function
• patients with
  uncontrolled
  Type 1
  Diabetes
  Mellitus
• Intestinal
  feedings

Question 2

What are the advantages of the Continous Method?

Answer 2

• Feedings can be
  administered at
  constant rate over
  24-hour period
• feedings
  can be cycled
  gastric pooling
  minimized and fewer GI
  side effects
  experienced, continuous
  feeding into jejunum is
  similar to normal gastric
  emptying

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of the Continous Method?

Answer 3

Requires
feeding pump
if accuracy of
volume
delivered is
required;
continuous drip
by gravity is
possible, but
less accurate

Question 4

What is the indications of Intermittent

Answer 4

Feedings that
are infused at
specific
intervals
throughout the
day (total
volume of
feeding
divided and
given 4-6
times/day)

Question 5

What are the advantages of Intermittent Method

Answer 5

Requires only
simple
equipment, can
be used in
home settings,
may be more
physiologic
than
continuous
infusion,
feedings can
be
administered
by gravity over
30-90 minutes

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of Intermittent Method

Answer 6

In absence of
pumps, feedings
must be monitored
vigilantly, may
become time
consuming
depending on
number of
scheduled
feedings per day,
rate of intermittent
infusion (rather
than volume)
seems to be a
major reason for
intolerance of tube
feedings

Question 7

What are the indications of Bolus method?

Answer 7

Appropriate only
for feeding into
the stomach,
involves feeding
large volumes of
formula
intermittently
over short
periods, usually
by syringe

Question 8

What are the advantages of Bolus Method

Answer 8

More
manageable for
the patient, rate
of 30 ml/min or
volume of
500-700 ml per
feeding seems to
be cutoff of
physical
tolerance limits

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of Bolus Method

Answer 9

• Associated with
  increased risk of
  aspiration,
• regurgitation, and
• GI side effects;
• not appropriate for
  postpyloric
  feedings