PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Khattak, I A
AU  - Khan, S A
TI  - ENTERAL FEEDING, ITS COMPLICATIONS AND MONITORING
DP  - 2008 Nov 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - ps411--ps411
VI  - 93
IP  - Suppl 2
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/93/Suppl_2/ps411.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/93/Suppl_2/ps411.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2008 Nov 01; 93
AB  - This study was conducted on 41 infant patients (mean age = 22.23±6.1 days, mean wt = 2.1±0.5 kg) admitted to the Pediatrics wards of two hospitals in Peshawar, NWFP Pakistan during 2007. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the nutrients intake of the infants through nasogastric (NG) feeding, monitoring and complications of NG feeding. Data on NG feed was collected and analyzed for macro and micronutrients using food composition tables. Data on the NG associated complications, nutritional assessment and NG monitoring were collected from the patients’ medical records. The results show that mean energy intake was 115±9 Kcal/day (47% of RDA), of which 65% and 35% was furnished by NG feed and via parenterally, respectively. The mean protein intake was 1.25±0.07 g/day (27 % of the RDA). Daily intakes of minerals (Ca, P, Zn, Fe, and Mg) and vitamins (A, D, E, B6, B12, folates, thiamin, and ascorbic acid) were much below the RDAs. Aspiration, reflux, tube blockage, tube displacement, gut infection and diarrhea were the complications observed. Monitoring protocol of NG feeding was satisfactory. The conclusion of the study is that the lower intake of protein and energy on NG feed and frequency of most of complications is an issue of concern. As a recommendation pressure must be applied to increase the energy and nutrient intake (particularly protein), further strengthening monitoring and to minimize associated complications.