Is nasojejunal feeding as effective as we think? An evaluation of nasojejunal feeding in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Early enteral feeding is important in maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract mucosal barrier and associated with less bacterial translocation and decreased stimulation of the systemic inflammatory response and subsequent improved outcomes in intensive care (ICU) patients. Enteral feeding by nasogastric (NG) tubes is the preferred route of nutritional support for most ICU patients. However, ICU patients with delayed gastric emptying and poor intestinal motility may not tolerate gastric feeding and may therefore benefit from post-pyloric feeding via nasojejunal (NJ) tubes1.