Abstract

Enteral nutrition (EN) is generally regarded as the most important and efficient nutritional support for patients who are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished. EN is commonly used when patients have a functional gastrointestinal tract but are unable to safely swallow. Osmolality, renal solute load, pH, residue, and caloric density should be considered to select an enteral formula. Infusion methods for EN, including bolus, intermittent, and continuous feeding, should be determined by patient age, location of the feeding tube, total energy intake, and intestinal status. Monitoring of vital signs, body weight changes, input/output balance, body fluid status, nutrient intake, essential laboratory data, and medications are essential to evaluate the appropriateness of nutritional support and to prevent EN-related complications, such as tube occlusion, aspiration, diarrhea, constipation, dehydration, or refeeding syndrome. (SMN 2011;2:5-10)

• Keywords: Enteral nutrition, Indication, Formula, Tube feeding, Monitoring, Complications