Chapter 98: Feeding Tubes

Question 1

What are three methods for providing enteral nutrition?

Answer 1

Coaxed feeding
Orogastric tubes
Nasoesophageal tubes

Question 2

How do you verify placement of an NE tube?

Answer 2

Inject air and listen for borborygmus
inject fluid and see if coughs (trachea)
Radiographs (just do this)

Question 3

What are enteral fluid requirements for hydration?

Answer 3

50-100ml/kg/day (more if sick)

Question 4

Describe the three day ramp up of RER over enteral continuous feeding?

Answer 4

Day 1 25%
Day 2 50%
Day 3 100% RER
Assess residual gastric volume q8

Question 5

What is gastric capacity for bolus feeding?

Answer 5

22-30mL/kg MAX

Question 6

What is refeeding syndrome?

Answer 6

With chronic lack of nutrition, intracellular cations may be decreased even with normal plasma levels.
With feeding, cations rush into cells which decreases systemic levels -> decreased K, phosphorus, and Mg
If phosphorus gets less than 1.5 mg/dL BADNESS

Question 7

How do you treat refeeding syndrome?

Answer 7

Correct electrolyte abnormalities and feed at 50% RER until stable.

Question 8

When can you pull a feeding tube?

Answer 8

When animal is eating it’s own RER for >24hr