If a patient with gastroparesis is not able to meet his or her ...

[ts19998]

If a patient with gastroparesis is not able to meet his or her nutritional needs orally, what type of enteral feeding recommendations are appropriate?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Summarize the current recommendations for nutrition therapy for gastroparesis. Choose at least 3 of the recommended dietary modifications and explain why each may assist with control of symptoms or improve nutritional status.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[tanna.moeller]

Answer to Question 1

 Enteral nutritional support via a gastroduodenal tube or a J-tube to continue feeding the gut and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal lining and immunological function.
 Parenteral nutrition should only be considered if other gastrointestinal problems (e.g. high-output fistulas) exist and enteral nutrition is contraindicated

Answer to Question 2

 Recommend nutrition support if solid food consumption is inadequate - if oral consumption is too low, adequate nutriture (energy and protein) should be provided via nutrition support
 Consume 5-6 small meals per day - smaller meals may alleviate the feelings of discomfort/pain from large meals and allow for quicker gastric emptying of the meal (due to the lower volume)
 Encourage activity after eating (not lying down) - keeping the upper body in an upright position can allow gravity to assist in the movement of the gastric contents towards the pylorus
 Select foods low in fiber and fat - fiber can thicken the gastric contents and slow their passage into the small intestine; fat will stimulate cholecystokinin and hence inhibit gastric emptying
 Provide nutrition education to minimize symptoms of malabsorption/maldigestion - educating the client to consume foods consisting of high energy, protein, and micronutrient content can prevent nutritional inadequacies

[ts19998]

Thank you!

[tanna.moeller]

Always glad to help...