Complications and how to avoid them
Some punctual problems may occur during enteral feeding. Learn what you can do to avoid these situations:
Vomit
- Possible causes:
-
- 1. Incorrect position of the patient in the bed or of the tube;
- 2. Dripping of the formula being too fast;
- 3. Administration of a high volume of formula at the same time.
- What to do:
-
- 1. Keep the patient sitting while the head of the bed is raised;
- 2. Diminish drip speed until the end of the formula;
- 3. Monitor the next administration and if the issue repeats, contact your health professional.
Diarrhea
- Possible causes:
-
- 1. Administration is too fast or too cold;
- 2. Reaction to medication;
- 3. Patient has recently changed formula.
- What to do:
-
- 1. Talk to your health professional about the proportion of the formula administered;
- 2. Remove the formula from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before administering it, allowing it to reach room temperature;
- 3. Do not use a formula that has been left at room temperature for longer than the manufacturer’s recommended period, or that has been in the refrigerator for more than 48 hours;
- 4. Contact the health professional to switch to a formula that has easier absorption and digestion ingredients;
- 5. Ask your health professional if the medication you use can cause diarrhea.
Abdominal distension
- Possible causes:
-
- 1. Administration is too fast or too cold;
- 2. Patient is lying down during administration of the formula, or exerting effort immediately after feeding;
- 3. Patient may be intolerant to the formula.
- What to do:
-
- 1. Ask your health professional to decrease the amount of formula administered;
- 2. Keep the formula at room temperature before administering it;
- 3. Check if you are following the correct formula administration guidelines;
- 4. Keep the head of the bed elevated during the administration of the formula and until 30-60 minutes before the end.
Dehydration
- Possible causes:
-
- 1. Lack of water;
- 2. Frequent diarrhea;
- 3. Prolonged fever;
- 4. Excessive sweating.
- What to do:
-
- 1. Proper water intake as recommended and before and after meals.
- 2. Consult your health professional to adjust recommended amount of water.