Enteral Feeding via Nasogastric Tube. Effectiveness of continuous versus intermittent administration for greater tolerance in adult patients in Intensive Care: A systematic review.

Abstract

Review Questions/Objectives The Review objective is to synthesise the best available evidence on the effectiveness of continuous versus intermittent enteral feeding in adult patients with nasogastric tube admitted to the ICU, in respect to their nutritional status, digestive tolerance and complications Inclusion Criteria Types of participants Patients of nineteen years of age or more, carrying a nasogastric tube, enteral feeding recipients and who were admitted to an intensive care unit, with either a medical or a surgical pathology, and that received enteral feeding during their stay in the Intensive Care Unit. Types of interventions Intervention: Continuous enteral feeding. Comparator: Intermittent enteral feeding. Types of outcomes Studies must include at least one of the following primary outcomes: Primary outcome: 1.-Patient’s nutritional status. 2.-Digestive tolerance. 3.-Bronchoaspiration. The following secondary outcomes, will also be considered: 1. Start day and duration of enteral feeding. 2. Length of hospital stay and ICU stay. 3. Causes of interruption of enteral feeding because of complications.