Overview of Enteral Nutrition

Abstract

Enteral nutrition (EN) is recognized as a medical nutrition therapy for patients with a functional gastrointestinal tract who are unable to maintain their weight and health by oral intake alone either due to a highly catabolic medical condition or a functional limitation. EN support provides calories and protein to help improve or maintain adequate weight, lean body mass, and overall nutritional status. EN also provides nonnutritive benefits such as maintaining intestinal integrity, supporting the immune system, and preventing infection. EN support can be tailored to a patient’s nutrient needs, and there are various formulas that vary in composition of macronutrients, concentration, and electrolytes for specific disease processes or conditions that may help with tolerance and absorption. EN support complications include issues with access, diarrhea, constipation, electrolyte abnormalities, hyperglycemia, and dehydration/overhydration. Generally, EN is well tolerated. While a patient is on this type of nutrition support, it is important to closely monitor tolerance, weight, laboratory values if indicated, and overall clinical progress, with adjustment to the regimen as needed. This review contains 1 figure, 4 tables, and 48 references. Key words: enteral access, enteral formula, enteral nutrition support, gastric residuals, gastrointestinal tract, immunonutrition, malnutrition, medical nutrition therapy, tube feed formula, tube feed tolerance, tube feeding, volume-based feeding