Home Tube Feeding for Long-term Nutritional Support

Twenty-three adult patients with protein-calorie malnutrition were referred for outpatient tube feeding. Initial nutritional support with hypercaloric supplemented diets did not prevent further catabolism and weight loss, as the mean protein intake was 35.2 g/24 hr and the mean calorie intake was 844 cal/24 hr. Outpatient tube feeding was then initiated to deliver a mean of 78.5 g protein/24 hr and 2248 cal/24 hr. Patients on tube feeding demonstrated an increase of serum albumin and total body weight compared to diet therapy alone. The patient and family members were instructed in the technique of outpatient enteral feeding, which included instructions in feeding tube intubation, formula aspiration, and monitoring methods to prevent gastric aspiration and pooling. No major complications were observed. Home tube feeding was concluded to be a safe, efficient, and relatively inexpensive method of hyperalimentation for selected patients.