Intestinal Failure, Malnutrition and Malabsorption Flashcards
What is intestinal failure?
Inability to maintain adequate nutrition + fluid demand via the intestines
What are some causes of intestinal failure?
Obstruction
Surgical resection
Congenital defects
Malabsorption diseases
What is the time frame for acute intestinal failure?
Up to 2 weeks
Give examples of some complications of parenteral nutrition
Sepsis
Line fracture/leakage
Pneumothorax
What is the treatment of choice for type III (chronic) intestinal failure?
Home parenteral nutrition
Less than 300 cm of small bowel is classed as short bowel syndrome. True/False?
False
Less than 200 cm is classed as short bowel syndrome
Albumin is a reliable, often diagnostic marker of malnutrition. True/False?
False
Low albumin can suggest malnutrition but can be low in other things
Which vitamins and minerals are significantly lower in high risk patients suffering from malnutrition?
Vitamin A, C, D, E
Zinc
What are the 4 stages of nutritional support?
Food (feeding normally)
Oral supplements
Enteral feeding
Parenteral feeding
What is enteral tube feeding?
Delivery of nutrition into the stomach, duodenum or jejunum via a tube
What are the 5 main methods of enteral tube feeding?
Nasogastric Nasojejunal Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy Surgical jejunostomy
Name some contraindications for ET feeding
Lower GI obstruction Prolonged ileus Severe vomiting/diarrhoea Fistulae Intestinal ischaemia
Name some complications of ET feeding
Incorrect insertion
Rupture, perforation, bleeding
Reflux
GI intolerance/irritation
What is parenteral feeding?
Administration of nutrition intravenously
When would PE feeding be used over ET feeding?
Non-functioning GI tract
Short bowel syndrome
Motility disorders
IBD with severe malabsorption
