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Continuous Compared With Intermittent Tube Feeding in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Ciocon Jerry O.,
GalindoCiocon Daisy J.,
Tiessen Charlotte,
Galindo Diana
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607192016006525
Subject(s) - medicine , diarrhea , calorie , pneumonia , caloric intake , aspiration pneumonia , parenteral nutrition , pediatrics , anesthesia , surgery , body weight
The methods of continuous (C) and intermittent (I) nasogastric tube feedings in 60 patients, 54 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 72 ± 9 years were compared in terms of number of complications, staff time used, and caloric intake. Patients were randomly assigned between these two methods and followed for 7 days. Diarrhea, aspiration pneumonia, clogged tubes, and self‐extubation were observed in both groups. Diarrhea was significantly more frequent (96% of 30 patients) in the I group than the C group (66% of 30 patients) (p <.008). Furthermore, diarrhea was more prolonged (4 days or more) in 64% of 30 patients in the I group than the C group (4 days or more) in 58% of 30 patients (p <.02). However, clogged tubes occurred 3 times more often in the C group ( p <.01). Self‐extubation and aspiration pneumonia tend to be more frequent in the I group but the difference was not significant. The average time used by staff nurses in the maintenance of NGT feedings was not significantly longer in the I group (48.45 ± 11 min/patient per day) than the C group (46.46 ± 11 min/ patient per day). In the C group the mean calories recommended were 2248 ± 36 kcal/day but the actual caloric intake was only 1465 ± 281 kcal/day, a deficiency of 783 ± 291 kcal/day. The recommended calorie count for the I group was 2021 ± 5 kcal/ day but the amount delivered was only 1226 ± 254 kcal/day, which resulted in a deficit of 795 ± 259 kcal/day. This difference in calories recommended and actually delivered in the C and I groups was not significant. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 16: 525–528, 1992)