Continuous Compared With Intermittent Tube Feeding in the Elderly

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Abstract
The methods of continuous (C) and intermittent (I) nasogastric tube feedings in 60 patients, 54 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 72 ± 9 years were compared in terms of number of complications, staff time used, and caloric intake. Patients were randomly assigned between these two methods and followed for 7 days. Diarrhea, aspiration pneumonia, clogged tubes, and self-extubation were observed in both groups. Diarrhea was significantly more frequent (96% of 30 patients) in the I group than the C group (66% of 30 patients) (p < .008). Furthermore, diarrhea was more prolonged (4 days or more) in 64% of 30 patients in the I group than the C group (4 days or more) in 58% of 30 patients (p < .02). However, clogged tubes occurred 3 times more often in the C group (p < .01). Self-extubation and aspiration pneumonia tend to be more frequent in the I group but the difference was not significant. The average time used by staff nurses in the maintenance of NGT feedings was not significantly longer in the I group (48.45 ± 11 min/patient per day) than the C group (46.46 ± 11 min/ patient per day). In the C group the mean calories recommended were 2248 ± 36 kcal/day but the actual caloric intake was only 1465 ± 281 kcal/day, a deficiency of 783 ± 291 kcal/day. The recommended calorie count for the I group was 2021 ± 5 kcal/ day but the amount delivered was only 1226 ± 254 kcal/day, which resulted in a deficit of 795 ± 259 kcal/day. This difference in calories recommended and actually delivered in the C and I groups was not significant. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 16:525-528, 1992)

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