Background: Patients treated in the intensive care unit require enteral feedings to
maintain adequate nutrition during critical illness. Aim of the study: to compare
the effect of intermittent enteral feeding by using syringe pump versus hospital
blended formula by using feeding bag on patients' outcomes. Setting: was carried
out in three settings at Assiut university hospital. Sample: A randomized
controlled experimental study in which seventy patients were selected by
convenience sampling and assigned into two equal groups (35 patients each). Both
groups received 2000 ml of feed per day and the same formula per day which was
30-35ml/kg of water, 1.5 g/kg of protein. The only manipulation was in the flow
rate and the device by which the feed was administered. Tools: The three tools
used in this study were developed by the researcher based on reviewing of the
literatures. The first tool was general assessment sheet, the second tool is the
feeding assessment sheet, The third tool is Patients' outcomes evaluation sheet
Results: There were significant statistical differences between the outcomes of the
two groups. The complications in the intermittent enteral feeding group were lower
than those in feeding bag group as in gastrointestinal (P<0.001), mechanical
(P=0.033) and metabolic complication (P0.005). Conclusion: intermittent enteral
feeding by using syringe pump is extremely effective in reducing complications
and improving the nutritional status among ICU patients. Recommendations:
Intermittent enteral feeding should be used as a standard enteral feeding for patients
in the ICU.