Clinical considerations. Tube feeding in the elderly.

1. The major indication for tube feeding is the inability to ingest sufficient nutrients by mouth in the presence of a functioning gastrointestinal tract. 2. Diarrhea, a frequent complaint, may be due to a variety of factors, including medication side effects, bacterial contamination of formula, viral infection, low albumin, high osmolality of the formula, too rapid infusion rate, and fecal impaction. 3. Aspiration of the tube feeding resulting in pneumonia is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication seen more frequently in patients with altered mental status or the inability to protect their airway. 4. Key items in the nutritional assessment include body weight; weight loss; visceral protein estimation, eg, albumin; exercise tolerance; and muscle strength.