Pulmonary complications from enteral nutrition

Complications of enteral nutrition may compromise respiratory function by direct mechanical injury by feeding tubes, aspiration of formula, or alterations in metabolism. Although much of the data reviewed in this paper were published more than 10 years ago, these studies still comprise most of the literature on pulmonary complications of enteral nutrition. Many of the products that are described in these older studies no longer exist or are not widely used. Additional research is needed to determine whether the enteral formulas and delivery devices that have recently been developed are associated with a similar incidence of misplacement, aspiration, or displacement as that previously reported.