What should be avoided with enteral feeding when possible to optimize meeting calorie and protein needs?

What should be avoided with enteral feeding when possible to optimize meeting calorie and protein needs?

• A. Initiating small bowel feeding
• B. Increasing feeding frequency
• C. Prone positioning
• D. Holding of feedings

Answer: (D)

Delivering enteral nutrition with minimal interruptions is key to meeting calorie and protein targets. Each pause or hold in feeding reduces the total amount delivered in a 24-hour period, making it harder to reach goals and often delaying recovery. Therefore, feedings should be continued whenever clinically feasible and re-started promptly after any necessary pause, adjusting the rate rather than stopping completely if possible. Other strategies, like initiating feeds into the small bowel to improve tolerance, increasing feeding frequency to distribute calories more evenly, or using prone positioning for respiratory reasons, are ways to optimize delivery and safety. They do not inherently hinder meeting nutrient goals the way holding feedings does.

Delivering enteral nutrition with minimal interruptions is key to meeting calorie and protein targets. Each pause or hold in feeding reduces the total amount delivered in a 24-hour period, making it harder to reach goals and often delaying recovery. Therefore, feedings should be continued whenever clinically feasible and re-started promptly after any necessary pause, adjusting the rate rather than stopping completely if possible.

Other strategies, like initiating feeds into the small bowel to improve tolerance, increasing feeding frequency to distribute calories more evenly, or using prone positioning for respiratory reasons, are ways to optimize delivery and safety. They do not inherently hinder meeting nutrient goals the way holding feedings does.