title: Continuous compared with intermittent tube feeding in the elderly.
abstract: 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.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Veterans Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ciocon
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Galindo-Ciocon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tiessen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galindo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload