Mechanisms, prevention and management of diarrhoea in enteral nutrition

Kevin Whelan*, Stéphane M. Schneider

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Enteral nutrition (EN) is a method of artificial nutritional support commonly used in patients in the hospital or community setting. Diarrhoea can occur in 2%–95% of patients, the wide range resulting from differences in the patient populations and the definition of diarrhoea adopted (Whelan 2007). It may result in a number of negative clinical sequelae, including fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, faecal incontinence andpressure sores. This is a frequent reason for discrepancies between prescription and intake of EN in hospitalized patients (Martins et al. 2012) and may even result in the cessation of EN, which may exacerbate under nutrition and its associated consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. Importantly, diarrhoea is also distressing and burdensome for both patients and their carers (Majid et al. 2012). The chapter briefly reviews the mechanisms of diarrhoea during EN and then critically appraises recent and emerging evidence on the prevention and management of this distressing complication.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIntestinal Microbiota in Health and Disease
Subtitle of host publicationModern Concepts
PublisherCRC Press
Pages277-292
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781482226775
ISBN (Print)9781482226768
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

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