Food and Nutrient Delivery

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering enteral and parenteral nutrition, tube types, formula classifications, feeding delivery methods, and clinical management guidelines.

Enteral Feeding

A method of nutritional support for patients who cannot achieve adequate oral intake but have at least a partially functional and accessible gastrointestinal tract.

Nasogastric (NG) Tube

A feeding tube that passes through the nose, down the throat and oesophagus, and ends in the stomach.

Nasojejunal (NJ) Tube

A feeding tube that passes through the nose, throat, and oesophagus, traverses the stomach, and terminates in the first section of the small intestine.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube

A feeding tube placed directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall using endoscopic guidance.

Jejunostomy (J) Tube

A feeding tube surgically placed directly into the jejunum, the middle section of the small intestine.

Levin Tube

A single-lumen gastrointestinal tube primarily used for the suctioning of gastric contents or gastric decompression.

Salem Sump Tube

A double-lumen gastrointestinal tube containing a large lumen for suctioning gastric contents and a secondary smaller lumen that serves as an air vent to prevent mucosal adherence during suctioning.

Standard (Polymeric) Formula

An intact enteral formula composed of complex, whole proteins (such as milk, meat, or egg) or protein isolates; indicated for patients with normal digestive and absorptive capacities.

Blenderized (Osterized) Formula

A category of standard enteral formula made from puréed whole foods that provides natural fiber to normalize bowel function, though it carries an increased risk of abdominal gas and bloating.

Hydrolyzed (Elemental) Formula

A predigested enteral formula containing simple free amino acids requiring minimal digestion, indicated for patients with impaired digestion or absorption (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic disorders).

Harris-Benedict Method

A mathematical formula used to estimate a patient's basal caloric requirements based on gender, height, weight, physical stress level, and activity level.

Osmolality

The concentration of dissolved particles per kilogram of solution ($\text{mOsm/kg}$), determined in enteral nutrition primarily by the concentration of free amino acids, sugars, and electrolytes.

Dietary Fiber

A group of plant carbohydrates not digested in the human GI tract that stimulate peristalsis, add bulk to stool, and are broken down by intestinal bacteria into short-chain fatty acids to repair and maintain the gut lining.

Residue

The solid material remaining in the GI tract following digestion, consisting of undigested fiber, food particles, intestinal secretions, bacterial flora, and sloughed mucosal cells.

Intermittent Tube Feeding

An enteral delivery regimen delivering equal portions of $200\text{--}250\,\text{mL}$ of formula by gravity drip over $30\text{--}60\,\text{minutes}$ every $4\text{--}6\,\text{hours}$ during waking hours.

Bolus Feeding

A rapid feeding technique where $250\text{--}400\,\text{mL}$ (up to a maximum of $500\,\text{mL}$) of formula is administered via a large syringe barrel over fewer than $15\,\text{minutes}$, $4\text{--}6\,\text{times/day}$.

Continuous Drip Feeding

A feeding technique that infuses formula at a constant rate over $16\text{--}24\,\text{hours}$ using an infusion pump; preferred in critically ill patients to minimize gastric residual volume and aspiration risk.

Cyclic Feeding

The continuous delivery of formula over an $8\text{--}16\,\text{hour}$ schedule (commonly overnight while sleeping with the head of the bed elevated $> 30^\circ$), frequently utilized when transitioning a patient to oral intake.

Asepto Syringe

A large-barrel bulb syringe used to administer bolus enteral feedings or flush and irrigate enteral tubes.

Gastric Residual Volume (GRV)

The volume of remaining formula and gastric secretions aspirable from the stomach before an enteral feeding; returning the aspirate prevents electrolyte imbalance and loss of digestive juices.

Tube Patency Flushing

The routine instillation of water ($15\text{--}30\,\text{mL}$ before and after feedings, and $20\text{--}60\,\text{mL}$ every $4\,\text{hours}$) to maintain line clearance, or $30\text{--}60\,\text{mL}$ of warm water to clear an obstructed tube.

Parenteral Nutrition (PN)

The delivery of specialized intravenous nutrient solutions directly into the bloodstream, completely bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)

Short-term intravenous nutrition infused through a peripheral vein; requires an isotonic formula supplying no more than $2000\text{ to }2500\,\text{cal/day}$ to minimize the risk of phlebitis and thrombosis.

Central Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

A hypertonic, nutritionally complete intravenous formulation administered through a large-diameter central vein for patients requiring long-term or high-demand nutritional support.

Cracking

The destabilization and visible separation of lipid droplets out of a total parenteral nutrition admixture (frequently induced by high concentrations of calcium and phosphorus), making the solution unsafe to infuse.

Rebound Hypoglycemia

A rapid drop in blood glucose that can occur if concentrated hypertonic parenteral nutrition is discontinued abruptly rather than gradually tapered off.

Enteral Feeding

A method of providing nutrition for patients who cannot consume an adequate oral intake but possess at least a partially functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract accessible for safe use.

Nasogastric (NG) Tube

A feeding tube that passes through the nose, down the throat and oesophagus, and ends in the stomach.

Nasojejunal (NJ) Tube

A feeding tube that passes through the nose, throat, and oesophagus, continues through the stomach, and terminates in the first section of the small intestine.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube

A feeding tube inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall.

Jejunostomy (J) Tube

A feeding tube surgically inserted into the jejunum, the middle section of the small intestine.

Levin Tube

A single-lumen gastrointestinal suction tube used for gastric suctioning.

Salem Sump Tube

A double-lumen gastrointestinal tube with a large lumen for suctioning gastric contents and a secondary air vent.

Standard Formula

Also called polymeric or intact formula; composed of intact proteins (from milk, meat, eggs) or protein isolates extracted from milk, soybean, or eggs, indicated for individuals with normal digestive and absorptive capacity.

Blenderized (Osterized) Formula

A type of standard formula prepared from pureed whole foods that contains natural fiber to normalize bowel function, but carries a higher risk of causing bloating or stomach gas.

Hydrolyzed Formula

An elemental enteral formula containing nutrients in simplified form (such as free amino acids) that requires minimal digestion, is residue-free, and is indicated for conditions like short gut syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

Harris Benedict Method

A formula used to calculate a patient's caloric requirements based on their gender, height, weight, physical stress level, and activity level.

Osmolality (Enteral Solutions)

The measure of solute particles per kilogram of solvent ($\text{milliosmoles/kg}$), primarily determined by concentrations of sugars, amino acids, and electrolytes.

Isotonic Formula

An enteral formula that has the same osmolality as blood and is well tolerated by patients.

Fiber

A class of non-digestible carbohydrates that promotes peristalsis, increases stool bulk, and is fermented by gut microbiota into short-chain fatty acids that maintain and repair the intestinal lining.

Residue

The remaining substance in the gastrointestinal tract following digestion, comprising dietary fiber, undigested food, intestinal secretions, bacteria, and shed intestinal lining cells.

Intermittent Tube Feeding

A feeding regimen delivering equal volumes of $200\text{ ml}$ to $250\text{ ml}$ of formula over $30\text{--}60\text{ minutes}$ every $4\text{--}6\text{ hours}$ by gravity drip, typically scheduled during daytime hours.

Bolus Feeding

A variation of intermittent feeding where $250\text{--}400\text{ ml}$ (maximum $500\text{ ml}$) of formula is rapidly delivered via a large syringe barrel in under $15\text{ minutes}$, $4\text{--}6\text{ times}$ per day.

Asepso Syringe

A large barrel syringe with an attachable bulb mechanism used to deliver bolus tube feedings or irrigate feeding tubes.

Continuous Drip Feeding

An enteral feeding method that infuses formula at an unvarying rate over $16\text{--}24\text{ hours}$ via an infusion pump to optimize gastrointestinal tolerance and minimize aspiration risk in critically ill patients.

Cyclic Feeding

An enteral infusion administered at a continuous rate across an $8\text{--}16\text{ hour}$ window, typically overnight while maintaining the head of the bed elevated above $30^\text{o}$, used while transitioning to an oral diet.

Gastric Residual Volume (GRV)

The liquid volume aspirated from the stomach prior to enteral feeding to evaluate gastric emptying and aspiration risk; normal baseline is approximately $150\text{ ml}$, and the aspirated contents should be returned to preserve fluids and electrolytes.

Parenteral Nutrition (PN)

The provision of nutrients directly into the systemic circulation through an intravenous route, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract entirely.

Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)

An isotonic parenteral formula with lower concentrations of dextrose and amino acids, infused through a peripheral vein for short-term support when caloric requirements do not exceed $2000\text{--}2500\text{ cal/day}$.

Central Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

A hypertonic, nutritionally complete intravenous formulation administered through a large-diameter central vein for long-term support or high metabolic needs.

Cracking

The separation and precipitation of a parenteral nutrition lipid/nutrient emulsion, commonly triggered by high concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, rendering the bag unsafe for infusion.