Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the nutritional status of neurosurgical tube-fed patients. The objective of this study was to improve the nutrition management of tube-fed patients. The current practices of tube feeding and enteral nutrition formula as for 95 patients in the hospital were examined by reviewing patients charts, and interviewing patients, nurses and their family members. The results are summarized as follows ; 57.9% of patients that received the formula showed a decrease in mental status. Among the subjects, 55.7% had nervous system diseases due to old age. Most of the tube-fed patients were hospitalized in the emergency room and while hospitalized, the status of their respiratory organ was abnormal. The method of tube-feeding was by Bolus injection and the type of the tube was a 16Fr size silicone tube. The amount of the injection per day while tube-feeding was on average 1424 kcal for men and 1322 kcal for women and the calories per day ranged from 1000-1500 kcal(50.5%). The injection volume averaged 332.7ml and 45% of patients received more than 300ml per injection. The tube feeding intake rate was 127.9ml/min with 50% of subjects in the range of 50-100ml/min and 10% at 20ml/min. The longer the hospitalization, the older age, coma status, and the higher tube feeding rate, the more decreased were the biochemical parameters.

• Keywords: neurosurgical tube-fed partients; patients chart; nutrition management; tube feeding intake rate; biochemical parameters