Overnight nasogastric tube feeding

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Undernourished elderly patients, particularly those with fractured neck of femur, often suffer from anorexia and weight loss, hindering rehabilitation.
• Traditional feeding methods can disrupt sleep and limit daytime activities crucial for recovery.
• Nasogastric tube feeding offers a potential solution for nutritional support in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of two overnight nasogastric tube feeding regimens in undernourished elderly patients.
• To assess the impact of feeding on voluntary oral intake and overall nutritional status.
• To determine the feasibility of home-based nasogastric tube feeding.

Main Methods:

• Two types of nasogastric feeds were administered via fine bore tubes using continuous infusion: an isosmolar 1000 kCal feed and a concentrated 1800 kCal feed.
• Patients were divided into groups based on feeding regimen and treatment setting (hospital or home).
• Tolerance, side effects, voluntary oral intake, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters were monitored.

Main Results:

• The nasogastric tube was tolerated by 78% of patients, with few side effects reported, even with hyperosmolar feeds.
• Nutritional parameters (anthropometric and biochemical) showed improvement in all patients.
• Tube feeding did not impair oral intake in long-term anorexia but disinhibited appetite in recent onset cases, doubling voluntary intake.

Conclusions:

• Overnight nasogastric tube feeding is a well-tolerated and effective method for nutritional support in undernourished elderly patients.
• This feeding strategy supports rehabilitation by enabling daytime activities and improving nutritional status.
• The study demonstrates the successful application of nasogastric tube feeding in both hospital and home settings.