Constipation is more frequent than diarrhea in patients fed exclusively by enteral nutrition: results of an observational study

Developing guidance for feeding tube administration of oral medications

BACKGROUND

Drug administration through feeding tubes presents many challenges to the healthcare provider. There is little information available on medications than can be delivered safely when crushed and what efforts can be implemented to minimize clogging the feeding tube. Our institution requested a comprehensive examination of all oral medications for the feeding tube route.

METHODS

This report is a synopsis of the physical evaluation of 323 different oral medications for their appropriateness for feeding tube administration with distal site in either the stomach or jejunum. A worksheet was created for each medication. This document contained a review of the chemical and physical properties that would contribute to delivery of the medication. Each medication was then studied for the degree of disintegration, pH, osmolality, and potential to form clogs. For drugs that needed to be crushed, the volume of water needed to dissolve the drug, time for that process, and volume needed to rinse the tube after administration was also studied.

RESULTS

The results of this review are summarized in a table and based on a composite of the documents cited, tests conducted, and author's judgements based all the data collected. Thirty-six medications were identified as inappropriate for feeding tube administration, and an additional 46 medications were identified as inappropriate for direct jejunal administration.

CONCLUSION

The information produced by this study will enable clinicians to make informed choices in selecting, compounding, and rinsing medications through feeding tubes. Using the template provided, they will be able to evaluate a drug not studied here for potential issues in feeding tube administration.

Gastric feeding intolerance in critically ill patients during sustained pharmacologic neuromuscular blockade

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess gastric feeding intolerance for critically ill patients who received sustained neuromuscular blocker (NMB) pharmacotherapy.

METHODS

Adult patients (>17 years of age) admitted to the trauma intensive care unit who received continuous intravenous NMB pharmacotherapy (rocuronium, cisatracurium, vecuronium, or pancuronium) for ≥48 h during continuous intragastric enteral nutrition (EN) were retrospectively evaluated. Gastric feeding intolerance was defined by initiation of a prokinetic agent (metoclopramide, erythromycin, or both) for an elevated gastric residual volume (GRV) >300 ml and with distention of the abdomen by physical examination, observation of regurgitation or emesis, temporary discontinuation of EN with low intermittent gastric suctioning, or initiation of parenteral nutrition (PN). Patients were evaluated for gastric feeding intolerance for the first 3 days of combined EN and NMB pharmacotherapy. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Ten patients of the 47 patients (21%) were intolerant to EN during NMB pharmacotherapy. No statistically or clinically relevant differences in patient characteristics were found between patients who tolerated EN vs those who experienced gastric feeding intolerance, except for a higher median maximum GRV of 125 ml (28, 200) vs 300 (250, 400) ml, respectively (P < 0.001). Five patients responded to prokinetic therapy and five required PN.

CONCLUSION

Most patients tolerated intragastric EN during sustained NMB pharmacotherapy. Presence of NMB pharmacotherapy is not an absolute contraindication for EN.

Transdermal fentanyl patch versus standard analgesia in postoperative oral submucous fibrosis patients: a triple blinded, randomised control trial

Severe pain experienced by patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) compromises their physiotherapy and negatively affects the surgical outcome and the patient's compliance. The main aim of this study was to develop a protocol for pain control in the management of OSMF postoperatively. This was a prospective, parallel with active control, double-arm, triple-blinded, randomised control trial (RCT) with 48 OSMF patients, randomised into two groups - Group A (control, n = 25): received non-opioid analgesics (NSAIDs) and Group B (cases, n = 23): received transdermal fentanyl patches (TFP). Pain and interincisal opening were measured on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 15, and on the1^st and 3^rd postoperative months. Quality of Life (QoL) was assessed preoperatively, on the 15^th day postoperatively, and 3^rd month postoperatively, and compliance was documented postoperatively on the 9^th day. The transdermal fentanyl patch was found to have statistically significantly more effect in controlling severe pain during active mouth opening exercises, and thus significantly increased the patients' compliance. Although there was increased mouth opening and QoL in the fentanyl group, the differences were statistically insignificant. Our study recommends the use of TFP for better pain control and compliance in postoperative OSMF patients.

Management of gastrointestinal failure in the adult critical care setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastrointestinal failure is a polymorphic syndrome with multiple causes. Managing the different situations from a practical, metabolic, and nutritional point of view is challenging, which the present review will try to address.

RECENT FINDINGS

Acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) has been defined and has evolved into a concept of gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GIDS) built on the model of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and ranging from 0 (no risk) to 4 (life threatening). But there is yet no specific, reliable and reproducible, biomarker linked to it. Evaluating the risk with the Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) score is the first step whenever addressing nutrition therapy. Depending on the severity of the gastrointestinal failure and its clinical manifestations, nutritional management needs to be individualized but always including prevention of undernutrition and dehydration, and administration of target essential micronutrients. The use of fibers in enteral feeding solutions has gained acceptance and is even recommended based on microbiome findings. Parenteral nutrition whether alone or combined to enteral feeding is indicated whenever the intestine is unable to process the needs.

SUMMARY

The heterogeneity of gastrointestinal insufficiency precludes a uniform nutritional management of all critically ill patients but justifies its early detection and the implementation of individualized care.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Channelopathy-Associated Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among children with channelopathy-associated developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE).

STUDY DESIGN

Parents of 168 children with DEEs linked to SCN1A (n = 59), KCNB1 (n = 31), or KCNQ2 (n = 78) completed online CLIRINX surveys about their children's GI symptoms. Our analysis examined the prevalence, frequency, and severity of GI symptoms, as well as DEE type, functional mobility, feeding difficulties, ketogenic diet, antiseizure medication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and seizures. Statistical analyses included the χ² test, Wilcoxon rank-sum analysis, and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

GI symptoms were reported in 92 of 168 patients (55%), among whom 63 of 86 (73%) reported daily or weekly symptoms, 29 of 92 (32%) had frequent or serious discomfort, and 13 of 91 (14%) had frequent or serious appetite disturbances as a result. The prevalence of GI symptoms varied across DEE cohorts with 44% of SCN1A-DEE patients, 35% of KCNB1-DEE patients, and 71% of KCNQ2-DEE patients reporting GI symptoms in the previous month. After adjustment for DEE type, current use of ketogenic diet (6% reported), and gastrostomy tube (13% reported) were both associated with GI symptoms in a statistically, but not clinically, significant manner (P < .05). Patient age, functional mobility, feeding difficulties, ASD, and seizures were not clearly associated with GI symptoms. Overall, no individual antiseizure medication was significantly associated with GI symptoms across all DEE cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

GI symptoms are common and frequently severe in patients with DEE.

The effects of implementation of a stepwise algorithmic protocol for nutrition care process in gastro-intestinal surgical children in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

INTRODUCTION

Malnutrition is known as one of the major health problems among critically ill children; optimum nutrition support is considered as a therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcomes and minimize the length of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staying as well as its costs. Implementation of an algorithmic protocol can result in the upgrade of the quality of nutrition support system in PICU.

METHOD

In this study, we developed a stepwise algorithmic nutrition care protocol for PICU patients in two phases as follows: a critical review of past literature and an expert discussion panel. The final structured protocol includes three following steps for the nutrition care process: 1) Initial nutrition screening and assessment, 2) Nutritional intervention and 3) Nutritional monitoring. Pre and post-implementation audits were carried out in a 23 bed medical/surgical PICU in a children's hospital affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences over two 4-week periods to evaluate the impact of the algorithm implementation. The post-implementation audit was performed by passing 12 weeks from the protocol implementation. Critically ill children aged between 1month and 10 years, and PICU length of stay>24 h who were in post gastrointestinal surgery state, were enrolled.

RESULTS

Totally, 34 eligible critically ill gastrointestinal surgical children in post-implementation audit were compared with 30 patients with similar eligibility criteria in the pre-implementation audit. Notably, there were no significant differences in gender, median age, length of PICU stay, and mechanical ventilation requirement in the two audits. The comparison of our pre and post-implementation audits showed a significant increase in the proportion of energy delivery goal achievement following performing our intervention (56.7%, and 85.3%, for pre and post-implementation audits, respectively; p-value = 0.01).Additionally, time of achieving energy and protein goals were significantly decreased (5.5 vs. 3 days; p-value = 0.008 and 4 vs 3 days; p-value = 0.002, for energy and protein delivery goal achievements, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the algorithm have significantly improved the adequacy ratio of energy delivery and also decreased the time to achieve the goal in energy and protein intake among critically ill children in post-gastrointestinal state. In this regard, further prospective studies are needed for continuing the evaluation of the algorithm implementation outcomes in critically ill children with different surgical and internal underlying diseases.

Complications Associated with Enteral Nutrition: CAFANE Study

Objectives: To determine the association between home enteral nutrition (HEN) administration modality and its complications in patients. Methods: This is a prospective multicenter longitudinal study including 15 Spanish hospitals, from April 2015 to March 2017. A 4-month follow-up period was conducted for each patient by home visit. The study subjects were adult patients who began their nutrient intake by tube feeding, known as HEN, during the recruitment period. The variables studied included the type and modality of HEN administration and its related complications, such as vomiting, regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal distention. Mechanical complications and bronchoaspiration were also evaluated. Descriptive variables were used for fitting. Results: The study consisted of 306 patients; 4 were lost due to death. Specific HEN modalities protected against constipation (odds ratio (OR) = 0.4) and regurgitation (OR = 0.4). The use of a nasogastric tube (NGT) resulted in a lower risk of diarrhea compared to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) (OR = 0.4) but resulted in a higher risk of tube obstruction (OR = 7.4). The use of intermittent gravity versus bolus feeding was a protection factor against vomiting (OR = 0.4), regurgitation (OR = 0.3), constipation (OR = 0.3), diarrhea (OR = 0.4) and abdominal distension (OR = 0.4). The increase in the number of doses was a risk factor for the incidence of regurgitation (OR = 1.3). Conclusions: Gastrointestinal complications were the most frequent problems, but an adequate choice of the formula, route, feeding modality, number of doses, administration time, and dose volume can reduce the risk of these complications.

ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy [Formula: see text]

Enteral nutrition (EN) is a valuable clinical intervention for patients of all ages in a variety of care settings. Along with its many outcome benefits come the potential for adverse effects. These safety issues are the result of clinical complications and of process-related errors. The latter can occur at any step from patient assessment, prescribing, and order review, to product selection, labeling, and administration. To maximize the benefits of EN while minimizing adverse events requires that a systematic approach of care be in place. This includes open communication, standardization, and incorporation of best practices into the EN process. This document provides recommendations based on the available evidence and expert consensus for safe practices, across each step of the process, for all those involved in caring for patients receiving EN.

Electroacupuncture at acupoint ST 37(Shangjuxu) improves function of the enteric nervous system in a novel mouse constipation model

Background

Electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoint ST 37 (Shangjuxu) has been used to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve gastrointestinal motility. However, the mechanisms by which EA affects the enteric nervous system (ENS) have scarcely been investigated. In this study, we investigated whether EA could improve ENS function.

Methods

A constipation model was established by gastric instillation of ice-cold saline daily for 14 days. The constipated mice were divided into two groups: the model group, which was not treated, and the EA group, which received EA at ST 37 at a frequency of 2–15 HZ and an amplitude of 1 mA for 15 min a day for 3 days. A further six mice were included as a non-constipated control group. After EA treatment, intestinal propulsion and defecation time were measured. Additionally, in jejunum, ileum and proximal colon myenteric plexus, the expressions of PGP9.5 and nNOS were measured by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The EA group demonstrated significant improvements in carbon propulsion rates and defecation time compared to model group (P < 0.05). In addition, after EA, the PGP9.5 and nNOS expression in jejunum, ileum and proximal colonic myenteric plexus was back to normal levels.

Conclusion

This study suggests that EA stimulation at ST 37 is capable of ameliorating intestinal motility dysfunction, and can partly restore enteric neuron function. The ENS can participate in changes in intestinal motility by affecting inhibitory neurons.

Low-FODMAP formula improves diarrhea and nutritional status in hospitalized patients receiving enteral nutrition: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind clinical trial

Background

Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) are poorly absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates that play an important role in inducing functional gut symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet improves abdominal symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. However, there were no study for the effect of FODMAP content on gastrointestinal intolerance and nutritional status in patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN).

Methods

In this randomized, multicenter, double-blind, 14-day clinical trial, eligible hospitalized patients receiving EN (n = 100) were randomly assigned to three groups; 84 patients completed the trial (low-FODMAP EN, n = 30; moderate-FODMAP EN, n = 28; high-FODMAP EN, n = 26). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured; stool assessment was performed using the King’s Stool Chart and clinical definition.

Results

Baseline values were not significantly different among the three groups. After the 14-day intervention, diarrhea significantly improved in the low-FODMAP group than in the moderate- and high-FODMAP groups (P < 0.05). King’s Stool scores in diarrhea subjects were significantly and steadily reduced in the low-FODMAP group compared with the other two groups (P for time and EN type interaction <0.05). BMI increased significantly in the low- and high-FODMAP groups during the intervention (P < 0.05 for both), and showed a trend toward increasing in the moderate-FODMAP group (P < 0.10). Serum prealbumin increased significantly in all groups by 14-day; by 3-day, it had increased to the levels at 14-day in the low-FODMAP group. At 14-day, serum transferrin had increased significantly in the moderate-FODMAP group. In addition, subjects were classified by final condition (unimproved, normal maintenance, diarrhea only improved, constipation only improved, and recurrent diarrhea/constipation improved). Seventy-five percent of the diarrhea improved group consumed the low-FODMAP EN formula. 38.5 and 46.2 % of recurrent diarrhea/constipation improved group consumed the low- and moderate-FODMAP EN respectively. BMI significantly increased in all groups except the unimproved. Prealbumin levels significantly increased in the diarrhea-improved and recurrent diarrhea/constipation groups at 3-day and continued by 14-day, and in the constipation-improved group at 14-day. Transferrin levels significantly increased in the diarrhea-improved and recurrent diarrhea/constipation groups at 14-day.

Conclusion

Low-FODMAP EN may improve diarrhea, leading to improved nutritional status and facilitating prompt recovery from illness.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0106-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Enteral Nutrition for Adults in the Hospital Setting

In patients unable to tolerate oral intake, multiple options of nutrient delivery are available to the clinician. Administration of enteral nutrition (EN) has long been considered the standard of care for nutrition support among patients unable to meet energy and protein requirements orally. Healthcare practitioners must make careful decisions related to ordering, administering, and monitoring EN therapy. In the hospital setting, the registered dietitian is a key resource in enteral formula selection and method of administration, monitoring for and troubleshooting EN-related complications, and transitioning to oral feeding. The hospital setting also presents many unique challenges in providing optimal nutrition to the enterally fed patient.

Fiber and prebiotic supplementation in enteral nutrition: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To investigate fiber and prebiotic supplementation of enteral nutrition (EN) for diarrhea, fecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, and Web of Science databases were searched for human experimental and observational cohort studies conducted between January 1990 and June 2014. The keywords used for the literature search were fiber, prebiotics and enteral nutrition. English language studies with adult patient populations on exclusive EN were selected. Abstracts and/or full texts of selected studies were reviewed and agreed upon by two independent researchers for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Tools used for the quality assessment were Jadad Scale and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature.

RESULTS: A total of 456 possible articles were retrieved, and 430 were excluded due to lack of appropriate data. Of the 26 remaining studies, only eight investigated the effects of prebiotics. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that overall, fiber reduces diarrhea in patients receiving EN (OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.29-0.77; P = 0.02). Subgroup analysis revealed a positive effect of fiber supplementation in EN towards diarrhea in stable patients (OR = 0.31; 95%CI: 0.19-0.51; P < 0.01), but not in critically ill patients (OR = 0.89; 95%CI: 0.41-1.92; P = 0.77). Prebiotic supplementation in EN does not improve the incidence of diarrhea despite its manipulative effect on bifidobacteria concentrations and SCFA in healthy humans. In addition, the effect of fiber and/or prebiotic supplementation towards fecal microbiota and SCFA remain disputable.

CONCLUSION: Fiber helps minimize diarrhea in patients receiving EN, particularly in non-critically ill patients. However, the effect of prebiotics in moderating diarrhea is inconclusive.

Prevalence and Effectiveness of Laxative Use Among Elderly Residents in a Regional Hospital Affiliated Nursing Home in Hsinchu County

Background:

Long-term care residents are susceptible to constipation and one-half to three quarter of older nursing home residents receive laxatives regularly.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors related to abnormal bowel function and explore the effectiveness of laxative treatment among the elderly residents of a nursing home.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 110 residents older than 65 years old was enrolled in this study. The following variables were gathered: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), length of stay, daily fluid intake, type of food, functional level, cognitive ability, physical therapy status, somatic and psychiatric diseases, number of medications, and medication use. The use and dosage of laxatives were recorded by means of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Normal bowel function was defined as defecation frequency from three defecations per day to three defecations per week and stool consistency score of three to five on Bristol Stool Form Scale. A comparison between groups with normal and abnormal bowel function was drawn.

Results:

Low BMI, increased fluid intake, liquid food intake, poor functional level, poor cognition, and a history of stroke were significantly associated with altered bowel function (P < 0.05). The most frequently used laxatives were glycerol, senna glycoside, and magnesium oxide. There were significant differences in laxative regimens between residents with normal and altered bowel function; those with altered bowel function tended to take more laxatives than those with normal bowel function.

Conclusions:

This study suggested that treatment of constipation in the nursing home was unsatisfactory. To improve treatment outcomes in those susceptible to altered bowel function, a coordinated approach with involvement of physicians, nursing staff, and other professionals including dieticians and pharmacists seems necessary.