Which practice is most likely to worsen nausea related to delayed gastric emptying?

Which practice is most likely to worsen nausea related to delayed gastric emptying?

• A. Administering enteral formula at room temperature
• B. Using a more concentrated formula
• C. Reducing the rate of infusion
• D. Reducing narcotic medications

Answer: (B)

In delayed gastric emptying, the stomach slows moving contents into the small intestine, and the load inside the stomach can influence how quickly this happens. A more concentrated enteral formula delivers more calories and solutes per milliliter, raising the osmolarity and overall solute burden in the stomach. The stomach must dilute and accommodate this higher load, which slows emptying and increases gastric distension. That distension and delayed transit tend to trigger or worsen nausea. In contrast, lowering the infusion rate reduces how much volume the stomach fills at once, which supports more efficient emptying and can lessen nausea. Reducing narcotics would also help, since opioids slow GI motility. Administering formula at room temperature has a smaller or variable effect and is not as impactful as changing the osmolar load.

In delayed gastric emptying, the stomach slows moving contents into the small intestine, and the load inside the stomach can influence how quickly this happens. A more concentrated enteral formula delivers more calories and solutes per milliliter, raising the osmolarity and overall solute burden in the stomach. The stomach must dilute and accommodate this higher load, which slows emptying and increases gastric distension. That distension and delayed transit tend to trigger or worsen nausea.

In contrast, lowering the infusion rate reduces how much volume the stomach fills at once, which supports more efficient emptying and can lessen nausea. Reducing narcotics would also help, since opioids slow GI motility. Administering formula at room temperature has a smaller or variable effect and is not as impactful as changing the osmolar load.