Enteral Nutrition: Step-by-Step

The first step in designing a feeding plan that incorporates esophagostomy and gastrostomy tubes is to calculate the patient’s daily resting energy requirement at current body weight (see RER Calculation). The second step is to determine how many times per day the patient will be tube-fed. After an appropriate diet is selected, it must be diluted and mixed sufficiently to form a slurry or liquefied diet.

Step-by-Step: Enteral Nutrition

What You Will Need

• Good quality blender 

• Canned diet of choice

• Strainer 

• Appropriate-sized feeding tube 

• Catheter-tip syringe 

• Bowl

• Spatula

• Storage container

STEP 1.

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STEP 1.

Place the desired amount of diet in a blender. Add enough water to form the appropriate consistency needed for tube administration. Blend on high speed for 2–3 minutes.

STEP 1.

1 / 5

STEP 1.

Place the desired amount of diet in a blender. Add enough water to form the appropriate consistency needed for tube administration. Blend on high speed for 2–3 minutes.