Feed the ICU patient 'gastric' first, and go post-pyloric only in case of failure.
In a randomised trial comparing early enteral feeding by gastric and post-pyloric routes, White and colleagues have shown that gastric feeding is possible and efficient in the vast majority of critically ill patients. But the authors' conclusion that gastric is equivalent to post-pyloric is true in only the least severe patients. Given the extra workload and costs, post-pyloric is now clearly indicated in case of gastric feeding failure.
Berger
Mette M
MM
Soguel
Ludivine
L
D016638:Critical Illness; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011708:Pylorus; D013270:Stomach