Aspiration pneumonia in enteral feeding: A review on risks and prevention.

Abstract

Enteral feeding plays a critical role in the management of hospitalized patients, especially in intensive care units. In addition to delivering important nutrients, it also maintains the integrity of the gut and microbiota. Enteral feeding is also associated with complications and adverse events, some are related to access placement, metabolic and electrolytes disturbances, and aspiration pneumonia. In tube-fed patients, aspiration pneumonia has a prevalence ranging from 4% to 95% with a mortality rate of 17%-62%. Our review has not showed any significant difference in the incidence of aspiration pneumonia between gastric and postpyloric feeding and, given the ease of gastric access, we therefore suggest using gastric feeding as an initial strategy for the delivery of nutrition unless postpyloric access is otherwise indicated for other clinical reasons.

• Authors: Alsiddig Elmahdi, Mohamed Eisa, Endashaw Omer
• Journal: Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (Nutr Clin Pract) Vol. 38 Issue 6 Pg. 1247-1252 (Dec 2023) ISSN: 1941-2452 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37227191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Topics

• Humans
• Enteral Nutrition (adverse effects)
• Intubation, Gastrointestinal (adverse effects)
• Pneumonia, Aspiration (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)
• Intensive Care Units
• Nutritional Status