Effects of long-term elemental nasogastric feeding on elderly debilitated patients
O'Hara, J.G.; Kennedy, S.; Lizewski, W.
Canadian Medical Association Journal 108(8): 977-980
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-4409 PMID: 4633490 Document Number: 57818
Nine elderly patients, 7 men and 2 women, with severe dysphagia were fed with an elemental diet by nasogastric tube for 12 weeks between 2 periods of 3 weeks each when they were given by the same route a diet containing casein instead of amino acids and groundnut oil instead of selected medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides. One man died after 9 weeks on the elemental diet. The diet containing intact protein and fat and the elemental diet provided the following amounts of energy and nutrients daily: 1600 and 1600 kcal, carbohydrate 160 and 240 g, protein or equivalent 112 and 32 g, fat or equivalent 59 and 55 g, Ca 3.0 and 0.8 g, P 2.8 and 0.8 g, Fe 28 and 10 mg, Na 3.6 and 1.08, Cl 2.7 and 2.0 g, K 4.0 and 2.5 g and water 3000 and 3000 ml.Average values for haematocrit, Hb, bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time, platelet count, serum protein and albumin, fasting blood sugar and serum electrolytes were stable throughout the 3 periods. Pressure sores present in 3 patients healed normally. The average bodyweight increased on the elemental diet and during the following period. The average blood urea was lowest and the average uric acid was highest on the elemental diet. There was no clinical sign of pancreatic insufficiency, and in the man who died there was normal pancreatic morphology. Stools were lighter and had less odour on the elemental diet. Differences in numbers of bacterial pathogens in urine were not associated with diet.