Complications Associated with Enteral Feeding

Enteral nutrition is the preferred route for medical nutritional therapy. However, it is associated with numerous complications related to the tube itself and its position or patency, but also to the gastrointestinal dysfunction. An understanding of these complications and the way to overcome them is mandatory. Recently, new approaches have proposed the use of machine learning to predict gastrointestinal intolerance and enteral feeding failure, allowing the physician to decide the best route to use. Finally new technologies have been developed to detect massive reflux and prevent aspiration but also to compensate for energy and protein delivery failure. The integration of a better understanding of the complications and the use of artificial intelligence and of new technologies will allow the ICU physician to provide a more efficient nutritional therapy..