[Enteral Feeding and Nutrition for Patients With Critical Illnesses]

Patients with critical illnesses often require nasogastric tube feeding (NG feeding) to support their nutritional and caloric-intake needs because of therapeutic issues and an inability to self-maintain proper nutritional intake. The four primary NG feeding methods include continuous feeding, cyclic feeding, intermittent feeding, and bolus feeding. Each method is unique in terms of timing and relative advantages and disadvantages. In this article, the related literature is reviewed to strengthen the correct concepts of clinical medical staff with regard to NG feeding and nutritional care for patients with critical illnesses with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of care provided to this vulnerable patient population.