Comparative study between the effect of intermittent and hospital blended enteral feeding on intensive care patients’ outcomes

Background: Patients treated in the intensive care unit require enteral feedings to maintain adequate nutrition during critical illness. Aim of the study: to compare the effect of intermittent enteral feeding by using syringe pump versus hospital blended formula by using feeding bag on patients’ outcomes. Setting: was carried out in three settings at Assiut university hospital. Sample: A randomized controlled experimental study in which seventy patients were selected by convenience sampling and assigned into two equal groups (35 patients each). Both groups received 2000 ml of feed per day and the same formula per day which was 30-35ml/kg of water, 1.5 g/kg of protein. The only manipulation was in the flow rate and the device by which the feed was administered. Tools: The three tools used in this study were developed by the researcher based on reviewing of the literatures. The first tool was general assessment sheet, the second tool is the feeding assessment sheet, The third tool is Patients' outcomes evaluation sheet Results: There were significant statistical differences between the outcomes of the two groups. The complications in the intermittent enteral feeding group were lower than those in feeding bag group as in gastrointestinal (P<0.001), mechanical (P=0.033) and metabolic complication (P0.005). Conclusion: intermittent enteral feeding by using syringe pump is extremely effective in reducing complications and improving the nutritional status among ICU patients. Recommendations: Intermittent enteral feeding should be used as a standard enteral feeding for patients in the ICU.