Jpen Parenter Enter
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It is unclear if placing feeding tubes postpylorically to prevent respiratory complications is worth the extra effort. This study sought to determine the extent to which aspiration and pneumonia are associated with feeding site (controlling for the effects of severity of illness, degree of head-of-bed elevation, level of sedation, and use of gastric suction). ⋯ The findings support feeding critically ill patients with numerous risk factors for aspiration in the mid-duodenum and beyond to reduce the risk of aspiration and associated pneumonia.
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Jpen Parenter Enter · May 2011
The evolving role of post-ligament of Trietz nasojejunal feeding in enteral nutrition and the need for improved feeding tube design and placement methods.
Nutrition support is an important link in the chain of therapy for intensive care unit patients. The early institution of nutrition support significantly reduces the incidence of septic complications, reduces mortality, and shortens hospital stay. Unfortunately, impaired gastrointestinal function, particularly gastric atony, restricts the use of nasogastric enteral tube feeding, and the use of this route of administration in these patients can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, and the development of pneumonia. ⋯ Feeding tube design must incorporate a gastric aspiration port to overcome problems of gastroesophageal acid reflux, duodenogastric bile reflux, and increased gastric acid secretion, problems that occur during "downstream" jejunal feeding. Tube placement technique will need to be refined and patients will need to receive a predigested enteral diet. In postoperative surgical patients in the intensive care unit, there is also a need for a newly designed dual-purpose nasogastric tube capable initially of providing a means of undertaking gastric aspiration and decompression and subsequently a means of initiating nasogastric enteral feeding.