Comparison of Feeding Efficacy and Hospital Mortality Between Small Bowel and Nasogastric Tube Enteral Nutrition in Critical Illness at High Nutritional Risk

Objectives The current guidelines recommend that early enteral nutrition (EN) support by nasogastric tube enteral nutrition (NGEN) should be initiated within 48 h in the critically ill patients at high nutritional risk. Small bowel EN (SBEN) was suggested for those who are NGEN intolerance. Our previous study showed adjuvant feeding with SBEN at 7th ICU day may improve feeding efficacy and have survival benefit for those energy achievement rate more than 65% at the 3rd day after SBEN. However, the comparison of feeding efficacy and hospital mortality between SBEN and NGEN remains unclear.